closet (redirected from closets)

*out of the closet 

1. Fig. revealing one's secret interests. (*Typically: be ~; Come ~; get ~.) Tom Brown came out of the closet and admitted that he likes to knit. It's time that all of you lovers of chamber music came out of the closet and attended our concerts.

2. Fig. revealing that one is homosexual. (*Typically: be ~; Come ~; bring someone ~.) Tom surprised his parents when he came out of the closet. It was difficult for him to be out of the closet.

See also: out

closet someone with someone

to put someone into a private room with someone else for the purposes of conducting business. She closeted herself with the president and finally, once and for all, had her say.

skeleton(s) in the closet

a hidden and shocking secret. You can ask anyone about how reliable I am. I don't mind. I don't have any skeletons in the closet. My uncle was in jail for a day once. That's our family's skeleton in the closet.

See also: skeleton

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a skeleton in the/your cupboard  (British & Australian) also a skeleton in the/your closet (American)

an embarrassing secret If you want to be a successful politician, you can't afford to have too many skeletons in your cupboard.

See also: cupboard, skeleton

come out of the closet 

1. to talk in public about something which you kept secret in the past because you were embarrassed about it It's time hairy women came out of the closet. It's a problem that affects all women to a greater or lesser degree.

2. to tell people that you are homosexual (= sexually attracted to people of the same sex as you) so that it is no longer a secret He finally decided to come out of the closet so his mother would stop asking him why he wasn't married.

See also: come, out

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a skeleton in the/somebody's closet

a secret that would cause embarrassment if it were known People almost always have skeletons in their closets, parts of their lives they don't want to reveal.

See also: skeleton

come out of the closet

1. to be willing to talk in public about something that was kept secret The biggest surprise was that so many viewers came out of the closet and publicly supported the show.

2. to announce that you are attracted to people of the same sex come out Not all gays come out of the closet, either because they don't want to or don't need to.

Usage notes: sometimes used without come in both meanings: We're bringing adoption out of the closet and trying to make people more comfortable with it. He's out of the closet with his friends, but not at work.

See also: come, out