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: closet, come, out

References in periodicals archive	?		Idioms browser	?		Full browser	?
The Decade of Blind Dates" is Richard Alther's biographically influenced story of Peter Bauman, a man who has come out of the closet after decades of traditional heterosexual marriage. The Decade of Blind Dates by Dunford, Michael / MBR Bookwatch kept it hidden under the counter, forcing customers to come out of the closet when asking for it by name. Ode to 'Joy': a classic crosses a milestone by Fairbanks, Brian W. / The Gay & Lesbian Review Worldwide Are we saying that unless as an actor you come out of the closet and pick the picket signs, we don't want you? Quiet activism by Nesbitt, Travis; Pruitt, Bill; Johnson, Mark / The Advocate (The national gay & lesbian newsmagazine)	come off second best come on come on as Come on in, the water's fine! come on like gangbusters come on strong come on the scene come on to come on top of come one, come all come out come out against come out ahead come out at come out at an amount come out badly come out fighting come out for come out in come out in the open come out in the open with come out in the wash come out of a clear blue sky come out of left field come out of shell come out of the closet come out of the woodwork come out on come out on top come out smelling like a rose come out smelling of roses come out swinging come out the little end of the horn come out to be come out well come out with come over come rain or shine Come right in come round come short of come the raw prawn come through come through with flying colours come to come to a bad end come to a boil come to a close come to a conclusion come to a dead end come to a full stop	come out come out come out against come out ahead come out at come out at an amount come out badly come out fighting come out for come out in come out in droves come out in favor of come out in force come out in large numbers come out in the open come out in the open come out in the open with come out in the wash come out in the wash come out in the wash come out in the wash come out in the wash come out in the wash come out of a clear blue sky come out of hiding come out of left field come out of nowhere come out of shell come out of the blue come out of the clear blue sky come out of the closet Come out of the trade come out of the woodwork come out on come out on top come out smelling like a rose come out smelling like roses come out smelling of roses come out smelling of roses come out smelling of roses Come Out Swinging come out the little end of the horn come out to come out to an amount come out to be come out toward come out well come out with come out with come out with come over come over come over Come Over And Help come over big come over big Come Over Some Day Maybe Play Poker Three Jacks Calls Two Queens come pass with flying colors come pass with flying colours Come Quick, Danger Beckons, Time Is Our Enemy Come Quickly

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The Decade of Blind Dates" is Richard Alther's biographically influenced story of Peter Bauman, a man who has come out of the closet after decades of traditional heterosexual marriage.