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Anonymous Posted 20 years ago
Vocabulary
Drawing curtains
I've always had problems with "drawing curtains". What does it actually mean? To open them, or to close them?
I assume that "drawing curtains" means drawing them together; and opening them is "drawing back curtains".
Can somebody, please, clarify?
Thank you
I assume that "drawing curtains" means drawing them together; and opening them is "drawing back curtains".
Can somebody, please, clarify?
Thank you
Top answer
Hi, Your interpretation is correct. Often, you pull on a cord, which is called a 'draw-string'. However, in N.
- Hi, Your interpretation is correct.
- Often, you pull on a cord, which is called a 'draw-string'.
- However, in N.
- America today I usually hear people say 'open/close'.
- Best wishes, Clive
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4 Answers
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Hi,
Your interpretation is correct. Often, you pull on a cord, which is called a 'draw-string'.
However, in N. America today I usually hear people say 'open/close'.
Best wishes, Clive
Your interpretation is correct. Often, you pull on a cord, which is called a 'draw-string'.
However, in N. America today I usually hear people say 'open/close'.
Best wishes, Clive
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Some writers prefer to be clear on this matter:
I searched
"drew the curtains close"
(quotations are important)
and I got:
Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens:
... with her, and drew the curtains close. The driver wanted no ...
Over the River, by John Galsworthy (chapter35):
CHAPTER 35. Tony Croom had spent
I searched
"drew the curtains close"
(quotations are important)
and I got:
Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens:
... with her, and drew the curtains close. The driver wanted no ...
Over the River, by John Galsworthy (chapter35):
CHAPTER 35. Tony Croom had spent
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It's a reasonable question, and unless the context is clear as to closing or opening, each interpretation is possible, since the pulling (drawing) action can accomplish both opening and closing.
Of course, without any context, it might be said of an artist delineating, in an artwork, the form of the curtains.
such as:
Of course, without any context, it might be said of an artist delineating, in an artwork, the form of the curtains.
such as:
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There's a children's story called Amelia Bedelia (I think I spelled it wrong, but it's close) about a housekeeper who follows all the directions literally. She makes a sketch of the curtains. (She also puts clothes on the chicken she is told to dress, and puts dusting powder on all the furniture she's told to dust.) Fortunately for the sake of her employment, she makes amazingly good pie, so they
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