curfew

Everyday

1. A curfew is a rule that says people must be indoors or at home by a certain time, especially at night. tree →
2. A curfew is the time by which a child or teenager must be home, set by their parents. tree →
3. (history) In the Middle Ages, the curfew was a bell rung in the evening telling people to put out their fires. tree →

In the lessons

In family life, teenagers often have a curfew («be home by 9»). In news and history, governments may set a curfew during a war, riots or an emergency. It tells the reader there is a deadline for being off the streets. Phrases: «break a curfew», «impose a curfew», «a 10 o'clock curfew», «after curfew».

Examples

• My big sister's curfew is ten o'clock on Saturdays. tree →
• The army set a curfew, and nobody could go out after dark. tree →
• He broke his curfew and was grounded for a week. tree →
• The campers had to be in their tents by curfew. tree →
• During the storm, the town had a night-time curfew. tree →
• In medieval towns, a bell rang for curfew. tree →

Note

Countable. Pronounced «KUR-fyoo». From old French «cover fire» (covre-feu). In a time problem, a 9:30 curfew means you must be home at or before 9:30.