come out of the closet

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Definition
  1. Verb (intransitive):
    • To publicly disclose one's homosexuality: The phrase means to openly and publicly announce one or state that one is gay, lesbian, bisexual, or otherwise not heterosexual. It describes the act of ending the concealment of one's sexual orientation.
    • To reveal a long-held secret or hidden identity more generally: By extension, it can be used informally to describe the act of publicly admitting to any personal fact or affiliation that was previously kept hidden.
Usage
  • The phrase is used as an intransitive verb. It is often followed by adverbs or prepositional phrases indicating time or manner.
  • It is an idiomatic expression. The subject is the person who reveals the information.
  • The related verb "to out" (used in the reference context) is a transitive verb meaning to reveal someone homosexuality publicly, often without their consent.
Examples
  • Verb:
    • After years of struggle, he finally decided to come out of the closet to his family.
    • The politician came out of the closet during a televised interview, earning support from many LGBTQ+ advocacy groups.
    • She came out of the closet as a lesbian when she was in college.
Advanced Usage

  • "To be out of the closet" or "to be out": This is the resulting state after the action. It functions as an adjective phrase.

    • He has been out of the closet since 2010 and is now a prominent activist.
    • Is she out at work?

  • "Coming out": This is the noun form (gerund) referring to the process or event itself. It is more commonly used than the full phrase "coming out of the closet."

    • Her coming out was a deeply personal journey.
    • National Coming Out Day is observed in October.
Variants and Related Words
  • Come out (phrasal verb): A shorter, more common variant meaning to make one's homosexuality public. ("He came out last year.").
  • Out (adjective): Describing someone who is openly gay. ("An out actor").
  • Out (transitive verb): To reveal someone else's homosexuality, often controversially. ("The magazine outed the senator.").
  • Closeted (adjective): Describing someone who has not revealed their homosexuality. ("He lived a closeted life for decades.").
Synonyms
  • Disclose one's homosexuality
  • Reveal one's true sexuality
  • Make one's orientation public
Related Phrases (Phrasal Verbs/Idioms)
  • Come clean (about something): To admit the truth about something you have been hiding. (This is a more general synonym).
    • He finally came clean about his past.
  • Step out of the shadows: To reveal oneself publicly after a period of hiding. (A metaphorical synonym).
    • The whistleblower stepped out of the shadows to tell her story.
Verb
  1. to state openly and publicly one's homosexuality
    • This actor outed last year

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