iron curtain (B2)
noun phrase
Pronunciation: /ˈaɪərn ˈkɜːrtən/
Definition
A political, military, and ideological barrier that separates a country or region from others, often used to describe the division between communist and non-communist countries during the Cold War.
Examples
The Iron Curtain was a physical and symbolic divide between Eastern and Western Europe.
The fall of the Iron Curtain marked the beginning of a new era of international relations.
The Iron Curtain was not just a physical barrier, but also a cultural and ideological one.
How to Use iron curtain
- behind the iron curtain (prepositional phrase)
- in the communist countries of Eastern Europe — "Many people lived behind the iron curtain during the Cold War."
- to lift the iron curtain (idiomatic expression)
- to remove the barriers and restrictions that separate two or more countries or regions — "The fall of the Berlin Wall helped to lift the iron curtain between East and West Germany."
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