come out
1. To exit a particular place. Please come out of your room and talk with me. Will a car be waiting for us when we come out of the party? A: "Carrie has barely come out of her office all day." B: "Well, that budget report she's working on is pretty complex."
2. To be blurted out; to be said unexpectedly or unintentionally. I didn't mean to insult her hairdo, it just came out! I don't care if it just "came out." That is a naughty word, and I won't allow it to be said in my house. It's not like we planned on spoiling the surprise for her, it just sort of came out by accident!
3. To be rendered in a particular way, often a way that was not intended. I didn't mean to insult her hairdo, but everything I said just came out wrong. I double checked my typing, but the text still came out all garbled. There must be a problem with the interface. This copy came out blank too. Are you sure there's ink in the printer?
4. To be revealed or exposed. When will the truth finally come out? Discrepancies in the yearly budget report only came out after the auditors began analyzing it. These incriminating documents came out because of a whistleblower's tireless efforts.
5. To become visible. After so much rain, I was thrilled when the sun finally came out. I had to slam on my brakes when that pedestrian just came out before me. A stray cat suddenly came out from under the porch and startled us both!
6. To be removed or washed away. I hope this stain comes out in the wash. A: "How do you get olive oil to come out of a sweatshirt?" B: "Try dish soap—that usually works for me." What can I do to get these scuffs to come out of my good shoes?
7. To have a particular result or level of quality; to turn out. How did your project come out? For my first try at baking, these cookies came out pretty good! I was really nervous about the parking situation, but everything came out great—there was actually a free lot right across the street.
8. To equal a monetary amount. What do all of your medical bills come out to? What's a train ticket come out to these days? Am I better off getting a round-trip one? The bill comes out to $217. Now, we just have to split it seven ways.
9. To be made available to the public; to be officially released. I'm so excited that my favorite author has a new book coming out in a few weeks. It's summertime, so the only movies coming out are action blockbusters. When is that actress's memoir coming out? It's supposed to be really juicy!
10. To make one's formal debut in society, as of a debutante. Will your daughter come out at the Debutante Ball this year? Dad, this stuff is so old-timey. Do I really have to come out as a deb? A young lady must come out and be formally introduced to society.
11. To reveal a personal secret, typically one's non-heterosexuality, after having kept it hidden. Once you come out to your parents, you will be very relieved. I knew I couldn't keep living this unfulfilling lie of a life—that's what finally drove me to come out. We can't come out to our friends about our financial troubles—we'd be the laughingstock of high society!
12. To make a stance public. The senator, long undecided, has finally come out in support of the bill. A: "It's really frustrating that the mayor won't come out with a statement one way or the other." B: "I know! Especially on an important issue like this that affects so many people in our city!" Celebrity endorsements are a big deal. If the right person comes out in support of your candidacy, it could make you appealing to a younger demographic.
13. To join one's friends in public socializing. Jen and Dean never come out anymore now that they have kids. Just come out for one drink with us! Please? A: "Where's your roommate?" B: "Please, like she would ever come out on a school night."
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
come out
(of something) 1. and come out from something Lit. to exit from something. When will they come out of that meeting? The people came out from the houses and celebrated.
2. Fig. to result from something. Nothing at all came out of our discussions.
come out
1. Lit to exit; to leave the inside of a place. Please come out. We have to leave. When do you think they will all come out?
2. Fig. to result; to succeed; to happen. I hope everything comes out fine. It will come out okay. Don't worry.
3. Fig. to come before the public; [for a book] to be published; [for a report] to be made public. A new magazine has just come out. When will your next book come out?
4. Fig. to become visible or evident. His pride came out in his refusal to accept help. The real reason finally came out, and it was not flattering.
5. Fig. [for a young woman] to make a social debut. (Now only done in certain U.S. regions.) Does your daughter plan to come out this year?
6. Fig. to reveal one's homosexuality. (See also
out of the closet.)
Herbie finally came out when he was forty-five. come out
(of someone or something) to emerge from someone or something. Did that pile of books really come out of just one office? The lion came out of its den.
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
come out
1. Become known, be discovered, as in The whole story came out at the trial. [c. 1200]
2. Be issued or brought out, as in My new book is coming out this month. [Late 1500s]
3. Make a formal debut in society or on the stage, as in In New York, debutantes come out in winter. [Late 1700s]
4. End up, result, as in
Everything came out wrong. [Mid-1800s] Also see
come out ahead.
5. come out for or against . Declare oneself publicly in favor of or opposed to someone or something, as in The governor came out for a tax cut, or Many senators came out against the bill. [Late 1800s]
6. Also, come out of the closet. Reveal that one is homosexual, as in The military has specific policies regarding soldiers who come out of the closet while enlisted . [Mid-1900s] Also see the subsequent entries beginning with come out.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 2003, 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
come out
v.1. To leave some enclosed space: The dog went into the shed, but he won't come out.
2. To go and spend time outside of where one lives: Every summer we come out to the country to get fresh air. Why don't you come out with us after work and see the play?
3. To appear or come into view: Look, the stars are coming out!
4. To have a visibly successful outcome: None of my photographs of the UFO came out.
5. To become known: The whole story came out at the trial.
6. To be issued or brought out: The author's new book just came out.
7. To declare oneself publicly: The governor came out in favor of tax breaks.
8. To reveal that one is a gay man, a lesbian, or a bisexual: The celebrity came out on national television.
9. To make a formal social debut: She came out at age 18 in New York City.
10. To end up in some state; result in being something: I hope everything comes out well. My painting came out a big mess.
11. come out to To result in some total amount; sum up to some amount: The bill for the dinner comes out to $15 per person.
12. come out with To offer something new for sale: The band is coming out with a new record next week.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Phrasal Verbs. Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.