come out of the closet: meaning & examples

Open in app

Language: English

Meanings:

  • 1.

    GlobalEnglish-speaking communitiesinformalcolloquialMachine
    • To openly disclose one's sexual orientation or gender identity after having kept it private.
    • To formally acknowledge or announce an LGBT+ identity to others, whether to family, friends, colleagues, or the public.

    Examples

    Beta

    • After struggling with her identity for years, Emily finally came out of the closet to her family last Christmas.

      After struggling with her identity for years, Emily finally came out of the closet to her family last Christmas.

    • He is nervous about coming out of the closet at work, but he wants to live authentically.

      He is nervous about coming out of the closet at work, but he wants to live authentically.

    • Many people find that coming out of the closet leads to greater self-acceptance and happiness.

      Many people find that coming out of the closet leads to greater self-acceptance and happiness.

    • When they came out of the closet as a couple, their friends were very supportive.

      When they came out of the closet as a couple, their friends were very supportive.

  • 2.

    GlobalinformalfigurativeMachine
    • To reveal a previously hidden fact, intention, or identity more generally, especially one regarded as sensitive, embarrassing, or socially stigmatized.
    • To stop hiding an aspect of oneself or one's life and make it known to others.

    Examples

    Beta

    • The politician came out of the closet about his past mistakes during the press conference to regain public trust.

      The politician came out of the closet about his past mistakes during the press conference to regain public trust.

    • Sometimes, people come out of the closet about their struggles to help others going through similar experiences.

      Sometimes, people come out of the closet about their struggles to help others going through similar experiences.

    • When she came out of the closet about her unconventional career choice, some family members were surprised but eventually supportive.

      When she came out of the closet about her unconventional career choice, some family members were surprised but eventually supportive.

Examples:

  • EN: They always come out of the closet, but this time you'll come inside.
    ES: ellos siempre salen del armario, pero esta vez eres tú la que entras.
  • EN: I'll help you with your problem but first you'll have to come out of the closet.
    ES: Lo ayudaré con su problema, pero antes tendrá que salir del armario.
  • EN: look after the bar. you can come out of the closet now, lieutenant.
    ES: Vigila el bar.
  • EN: carlton, I think it's time for you to come out of the closet.
    ES: Carlton, creo que es hora de que salgas del armario.
  • EN: Oh, it feels so great to come out of the closet.
    ES: Es fantástico destaparte.
  • EN: Well, I guess he didn't want to come out of the closet alone, so he's printed up a list of names of every gay cadet in Prescott College.
    ES: ¿Cuáles nombres? No quiere ser el único gay confeso... así que imprimió una lista de nombres de los cadetes gay del Colegio Prescott.
  • EN: I mean, you should come out of the closet and be openly gay already.
    ES: Deberían dejar de ocultarlo y de una vez ser gay abiertamente.
    ES: Deberían dejar de ocultarlo y de una vez ser gay abiertamente.
  • EN: Armistead Maupirs Tales of the City gender-bending and swinging in San Francisco. Before Stonewall, about those dark ages when you couldn't come out of the closet lest you be persecuted because of your, you know...
    ES: Tales of the City, sobre cambios de género y paseos por San Francisco y Before Stonewall, sobre esas épocas cuando no podían manifestarse.
  • EN: You told a longshoreman to come out of the closet and a gay guy to spend more time on the docks!
    ES: Usted le dijo a un longshoreman que salga del closet y a un chico gay a pasar más tiempo en los muelles!
  • EN: Fran, come out of the closet.
    ES: Fran, sal del armario.
  • EN: I mean, even if he is gay and attracted to you, he's going to be coming out of the closet, and you know what we boys do when we come out of the closet.
    ES: Gracias, Deepak Chopra. Incluso si es gay y se siente atraído hacia ti, se declarará homosexual. Y sabes lo que hacemos cuando nos destapamos.
  • EN: Dammit, why did you have to come out of the closet?
    ES: Maldita sea, ¿por qué has tenido que salir del armario?
  • EN: And it's time for me to come out of the closet.
    ES: Y creo que es hora de que salga yo del armario.
  • EN: Would you come out of the closet?
    ES: ¿Podría salir por favor del closet?
  • EN: - it's time for God's people to come out of the closet, - out of the churches and change America!
    ES: Es tiempo de que la gente con agallas salga a la luz... desde las iglesias y cambie a Norteamérica.

Related Idioms

Validation Count: 0

Source: Wiktionary

come out of the closet | Idiomator