What does being 'under a curse' mean in Christianity?

In the Christian context, to be 'under a curse' refers to the state of being condemned due to failure to uphold God's law perfectly. Paul declares in Galatians 3:10 that those who rely on the works of the law are under a curse because it is impossible to keep the law in its entirety. This truth drives home the point that our hope can only be found in Christ, who redeems us from the curse of the law (Galatians 3:13). It is through His grace that we are liberated from the condemnation of the law and brought into the blessings of faith in Him.