fifth walls

Noun

fifth wall (plural fifth walls)

1. The division between the fictional world depicted, and the actual actors, props, etc.
   • Bottom does not speak as a fictional figure pretending to be its actor, but, having crossed the fifth wall, as a “real” human being, as himself as Bottom.2010, J. Limon, The Chemistry of the Theatre: Performativity of Time, →ISBN, page 184
2. The divide between critics or audience members and author or theater practitioner.
   • If the 'fourth wall', the barrier between the actor and the audience introduced by theatre conventions, is an invisible artefact between the stage and the audience, the fifth wall may be thought of as the invisible wall between critics or readers and theatre practitioners.2005, Lynette Hunter, Peter Lichtenfels, Shakespeare, Language and the Stage, →ISBN
3. Any of various other divisions between groups of people in the theatre.
   • There's a fifth wall here tonight. And that's the wall between men and women. Which may be the toughest of all to crack.1996, Albert Ramsdell Gurney, The Fourth Wall, →ISBN, page 48
4. (interior design) The ceiling.
   • The fifth wall is the ceiling. Ceilings can be painted a color, painted with special effects, or wallpapered.2000, Mary Young, The Complete Idiot's Guide to Decorating Your Home, →ISBN
5. (interior design) The floor.
   • There's a "fifth wall" in every room. ..and it needs more care than the other four, put together. That "fifth wall" is the floor.1955, New York State College of Home Economics Extension Service, Homemakers' Radio News, page 29
6. Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see fifth, wall.
   • Most rooms that I know of have four walls. If you are looking for a way out and you wind up on the fifth wall of what seems like a square room, chances are you missed an opening.2008, Anthony Avillo, Fireground Strategies, →ISBN, page 627