Meaning & use
iron curtain
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Meanings
nounsingularfigurative
The political and military barrier that separated the Soviet-controlled countries of Eastern Europe from the West after World War II.
Grammar: Usually with the and capitalized: the Iron Curtain fell in 1989.
Patterns
- behind the Iron Curtain
- the fall of the Iron Curtain
Millions of families lived behind the Iron Curtain for decades.
The Iron Curtain began to fall in 1989.
He escaped across the Iron Curtain by hiding in a truck.
nouncountablefigurative
Any barrier of secrecy or restriction that keeps a group isolated from outside contact and information.
Grammar: Lowercase with an article for the general sense: an iron curtain of silence.
Patterns
- an iron curtain of something
- an iron curtain between people
An iron curtain of secrecy surrounded the research lab.
The company dropped an iron curtain between its two departments.
nouncountablespecialist
A fireproof metal screen lowered in a theater to separate the stage from the audience.
Grammar: A countable stage word: lower the iron curtain.
The iron curtain was lowered to protect the audience from the fire on stage.
Safety rules require a working iron curtain in every large theater.
Word forms
| plural | iron curtains |
|---|
Common combinations
- behind the Iron Curtain
- Her grandparents grew up behind the Iron Curtain.
- fall of the Iron Curtain
- The fall of the Iron Curtain reunited families.
- cross the Iron Curtain
- Few people could cross the Iron Curtain legally.
- Iron Curtain countries
- Iron Curtain countries had strict border controls.
- an iron curtain of silence
- An iron curtain of silence fell over the discussion.
Synonyms and how they differ
- Cold War divide
- Cold War divide is a plain description, while Iron Curtain is the famous symbolic name.
- barrier
- Barrier is generic and could be any obstacle, whereas Iron Curtain points to the specific historical border.
- wall of secrecy
- Wall of secrecy is a common phrase for the figurative sense but has no historical reference.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: iron curtain or Berlin Wall?
iron curtain vs Berlin Wall
The Berlin Wall was one physical wall dividing one city. The Iron Curtain was the entire boundary across Europe.
Practice
Which event is most closely linked to the fall of the Iron Curtain?
Choose one answer.
The Iron Curtain fell as communist governments collapsed in 1989 and after. The other events belong to different periods.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “iron curtain”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.