to come out of the closet
Idiom Definition:
"to come out of the closet"
to openly admit to being homosexual
to openly admit a previously secret or hidden point of view (sometimes used humorously)
This interesting person is literally coming out of the closet. - - - - -> 
Idiom Scenario 1:
After a two year relationship with Barbara ended, Steve was thinking about why his relationship failed. Steve examined his inner feelings and beliefs. He discovered that he had been hiding his true sexuality because of fear. Steve admitted to himself that he was gay. Steve decided that it was time to celebrate his homosexuality and...
come out of the closet.
This means that Steve will tell everyone in his life that he is homosexual.
Idiom Scenario 2:
Jean and Sylvia have been lovers for many years. They have always been careful not to display affection in public. Their friends and family do not know the true nature of their relationship. Jean and Sylvia decide that, in the present day, attitudes towards homosexuals have changed to the point where it is OK to be gay. They decide to...
come out of the closet.
Jean and Sylvia will tell their families and friends about their relationship. They will also begin to display affection towards each other in public as well as participate in activities and events that heterosexual couples participate in.
Idiom Scenario 3:
(Sometimes it is necessary to refresh your browser to see the news stories)
Which of these news stories is actually about:
- admitting to be homosexual
- disclosing a point of view or other belief or opinion?
Newsfeed supplied by: Google News
Alternate News Feed - (opens in a new tab)
Idiom Usage:
In the imperative:
"Come out of the closet, already!"
This idiom is definitely informal.
This idiom can be quite controversial as it concerns a controversial subject - homosexuality.
This idiom can be used, in a humorous way, to describe any other type of activity or belief that a person feels the need to hide or be ashamed about.
Alternate form:
"to be in the closet" - to hide your homosexual nature
"to hide in the closet" - to hide your homosexual nature
Gerund Form of the Idiom:
Coming out of the closet can be a traumatic and liberating experience.
Idiom Conjugations:
to come out of the closet
| PERSON | idiom in the positive | idiom in the negative | idiom as a question |
|---|---|---|---|
| First-singular (I) | I come out of the closet when I show the world my homosexuality. |
I do not come out of the closet when I do not show the world my homosexuality. |
Do I come out of the closet when I show the world my homosexuality? |
| Second-singular (you) | You come out of the closet when you tell your parents that you are gay. |
You do not come out of the closet unless you tell your parents that you are gay. |
Do you come out of the closet when you tell your parents that you are gay? |
| Third-singular (he) | He comes out of the closet when he kisses his lover in public. |
He does not come out of the closet unless he kisses his lover in public. |
Does he come out of the closet when he kisses his lover in public? |
| Third-singular (she) | She comes out of the closet when she admits to herself and begins to openly display her homosexuality. |
She does not come out of the closet unless she admits to herself and begins to openly display her homosexuality. |
Does she come out of the closet when she admits to herself and begins to openly display her homosexuality? |
| Third-singular (it) | not applicable |
not applicable |
not applicable |
| First-plural (we) | We come out of the closet when we march in a gay pride parade. |
We do not necessarily come out of the closet when we march in a gay pride parade. |
Do we come out of the closet when we march in a gay pride parade? |
| Second-plural (you all) | You (all) come out of the closet when you (all) openly date people of the same sex. |
You (all) do not come out of the closet unless you (all) openly date people of the same sex. |
Do you (all) come out of the closet when you (all) openly date people of the same sex? |
| Third-plural (they) | They come out of the closet when they are tired of hiding their true natures. |
They do not come out of the closet until they are tired of hiding their true natures. |
Do they come out of the closet when they are tired of hiding their true natures? |
| PERSON | idiom in the positive | idiom in the negative | idiom as a question |
|---|---|---|---|
| First-singular (I) | I am coming out of the closet just now. |
I am not coming out of the closet just now. |
Am I coming out of the closet just now? |
| Second-singular (you) | You are coming out of the closet just now. |
You are not coming out of the closet just now. |
Are you coming out of the closet just now? |
| Third-singular (he) | He is coming out of the closet just now. |
He is not coming out of the closet just now. |
Is he coming out of the closet just now? |
| Third-singular (she) | She is coming out of the closet just now. |
She is not coming out of the closet just now. |
Is she coming out of the closet just now? |
| Third-singular (it) | not applicable |
not applicable |
not applicable |
| First-plural (we) | We are coming out of the closet just now. |
We are not coming out of the closet just now. |
Are we coming out of the closet just now? |
| Second-plural (you all) | You (all) are coming out of the closet just now. |
You are (all) not coming out of the closet just now. |
Are you (all) coming out of the closet just now? |
| Third-plural (they) | They are coming out of the closet just now. |
They are not coming out of the closet just now. |
Are they coming out of the closet just now? |
| PERSON | idiom in the positive | idiom in the negative | idiom as a question |
|---|---|---|---|
| First-singular (I) | I have come out of the closet. |
I have not come out of the closet. |
Have I come out of the closet? |
| Second-singular (you) | You have come out of the closet. |
You have not come out of the closet. |
Have you come out of the closet? |
| Third-singular (he) | He has come out of the closet. |
He has not come out of the closet. |
Has he come out of the closet? |
| Third-singular (she) | She has come out of the closet. |
She has not come out of the closet. |
Has she come out of the closet? |
| Third-singular (it) | not applicable |
not applicable |
not applicable |
| First-plural (we) | We have come out of the closet. |
We have not come out of the closet. |
Have we come out of the closet? |
| Second-plural (you all) | You (all) have come out of the closet. |
You (all) have not come out of the closet. |
Have you (all) come out of the closet? |
| Third-plural (they) | They have come out of the closet. |
They have not come out of the closet. |
Have they come out of the closet? |
| PERSON | idiom in the positive | idiom in the negative | idiom as a question |
|---|---|---|---|
| First-singular (I) | I have been coming out of the closet for a few months. |
I have not been coming out of the closet for a few months. |
Have I been coming out of the closet for a few months? |
| Second-singular (you) | You have been coming out of the closet for a few months. |
You have not been coming out of the closet for a few months. |
Have you been coming out of the closet for a few months? |
| Third-singular (he) | He has been coming out of the closet for a few months. |
He has not been coming out of the closet for a few months. |
Has he been coming out of the closet for a few months? |
| Third-singular (she) | She has been coming out of the closet for a few months. |
She has not been coming out of the closet for a few months. |
Has she been coming out of the closet for a few months? |
| Third-singular (it) | not applicable |
not applicable |
not applicable |
| First-plural (we) | We have been coming out of the closet for a few months. |
We have not been coming out of the closet for a few months. |
Have we been coming out of the closet for a few months? |
| Second-plural (you all) | You (all) have been coming out of the closet for a few months. |
You (all) have not been coming out of the closet for a few months. |
Have you (all) been coming out of the closet for a few months? |
| Third-plural (they) | They have been coming out of the closet for a few months. |
They have not been coming out of the closet for a few months. |
Have they been coming out of the closet for a few months? |
to come out of the closet
| PERSON | idiom in the positive | idiom in the negative | idiom as a question |
|---|---|---|---|
| First-singular (I) | I came out of the closet last year. |
I did not come out of the closet last year. |
Did I come out of the closet last year? |
| Second-singular (you) | You came out of the closet last year. |
You did not come out of the closet last year. |
Did you come out of the closet last year? |
| Third-singular (he) | He came out of the closet last year. |
He did not come out of the closet last year. |
Did he come out of the closet last year? |
| Third-singular (she) | She came out of the closet last year. |
She did not come out of the closet last year. |
Did she come out of the closet last year? |
| Third-singular (it) | not applicable |
not applicable |
not applicable |
| First-plural (we) | We came out of the closet last year. |
We did not come out of the closet last year. |
Did we come out of the closet last year? |
| Second-plural (you all) | You (all) came out of the closet last year. |
You (all) did not come out of the closet last year. |
Did you (all) come out of the closet last year? |
| Third-plural (they) | They came out of the closet last year. |
They did not come out of the closet last year. |
Did they come out of the closet last year? |
| PERSON | idiom in the positive | idiom in the negative | idiom as a question |
|---|---|---|---|
| First-singular (I) | I was coming out of the closet during the 90's. |
I was not coming out of the closet during the 90's. |
Was I coming out of the closet during the 90's? |
| Second-singular (you) | You were coming out of the closet during the 90's. |
You were not coming out of the closet during the 90's. |
coming out of the closet during the 90's |
| Third-singular (he) | He was coming out of the closet during the 90's. |
He was not coming out of the closet during the 90's. |
Was he coming out of the closet during the 90's? |
| Third-singular (she) | She was coming out of the closet during the 90's. |
She was not coming out of the closet during the 90's. |
Was she coming out of the closet during the 90's? |
| Third-singular (it) | not applicable |
not applicable |
not applicable |
| First-plural (we) | We were coming out of the closet during the 90's. |
We were not coming out of the closet during the 90's. |
Were we coming out of the closet during the 90's? |
| Second-plural (you all) | You (all) were coming out of the closet during the 90's. |
You (all) were not coming out of the closet during the 90's. |
Were you (all) coming out of the closet during the 90's? |
| Third-plural (they) | They were coming out of the closet during the 90's. |
They were not coming out of the closet during the 90's. |
Were they coming out of the closet during the 90's? |
| PERSON | idiom in the positive | idiom in the negative | idiom as a question |
|---|---|---|---|
| First-singular (I) | I had come out of the closet before it was fashionable to come out of the closet. |
I had not come out of the closet before it was fashionable to come out of the closet. |
Had I come out of the closet before it was fashionable to come out of the closet? |
| Second-singular (you) | You had come out of the closet before it was fashionable to come out of the closet. |
You had not come out of the closet before it was fashionable to come out of the closet. |
Had you come out of the closet before it was fashionable to come out of the closet? |
| Third-singular (he) | He had come out of the closet before it was fashionable to come out of the closet. |
He had not come out of the closet before it was fashionable to come out of the closet. |
Had he come out of the closet before it was fashionable to come out of the closet? |
| Third-singular (she) | She had come out of the closet before it was fashionable to come out of the closet. |
She had not come out of the closet before it was fashionable to come out of the closet. |
Had she come out of the closet before it was fashionable to come out of the closet? |
| Third-singular (it) | not applicable |
not applicable |
not applicable |
| First-plural (we) | We had come out of the closet before it was fashionable to come out of the closet. |
We had not come out of the closet before it was fashionable to come out of the closet. |
Had we come out of the closet before it was fashionable to come out of the closet? |
| Second-plural (you all) | You (all) had come out of the closet before it was fashionable to come out of the closet. |
You (all) had not come out of the closet before it was fashionable to come out of the closet. |
Had you (all) come out of the closet before it was fashionable to come out of the closet? |
| Third-plural (they) | They had come out of the closet before it was fashionable to come out of the closet. |
They had not come out of the closet before it was fashionable to come out of the closet. |
Had they come out of the closet before it was fashionable to come out of the closet? |
| PERSON | idiom in the positive | idiom in the negative | idiom as a question |
|---|---|---|---|
| First-singular (I) | I had been coming out of the closet for a year when gay marriage became acceptable by law. |
I had not been coming out of the closet for a year when gay marriage became acceptable by law. |
Had I been coming out of the closet for a year when gay marriage became acceptable by law? |
| Second-singular (you) | You had been coming out of the closet for a year when gay marriage became acceptable by law. |
You had not been coming out of the closet for a year when gay marriage became acceptable by law. |
Had you been coming out of the closet for a year when gay marriage became acceptable by law? |
| Third-singular (he) | He had been coming out of the closet for a year when gay marriage became acceptable by law. |
He had not been coming out of the closet for a year when gay marriage became acceptable by law. |
Had he been coming out of the closet for a year when gay marriage became acceptable by law? |
| Third-singular (she) | She had been coming out of the closet for a year when gay marriage became acceptable by law. |
She had not been coming out of the closet for a year when gay marriage became acceptable by law. |
Had she been coming out of the closet for a year when gay marriage became acceptable by law? |
| Third-singular (it) | not applicable |
not applicable |
not applicable |
| First-plural (we) | We had been coming out of the closet for a year when gay marriage became acceptable by law. |
We had not been coming out of the closet for a year when gay marriage became acceptable by law. |
Had we been coming out of the closet for a year when gay marriage became acceptable by law? |
| Second-plural (you all) | You (all) had been coming out of the closet for a year when gay marriage became acceptable by law. |
You (all) had not been coming out of the closet for a year when gay marriage became acceptable by law. |
Had you (all) been coming out of the closet for a year when gay marriage became acceptable by law? |
| Third-plural (they) | They had been coming out of the closet for a year when gay marriage became acceptable by law. |
They had not been coming out of the closet for a year when gay marriage became acceptable by law. |
Had they been coming out of the closet for a year when gay marriage became acceptable by law? |
to come out of the closet
| PERSON | idiom in the positive | idiom in the negative | idiom as a question |
|---|---|---|---|
| First-singular (I) | I will come out of the closet when there is no fear of persecution. I am going to come out of the closet when there is no fear of persecution. |
I will not come out of the closet until there is no fear of persecution. I am not going to come out of the closet until there is no fear of persecution. |
Will I come out of the closet when there is no fear of persecution? Am I going to come out of the closet when there is no fear of persecution? |
| Second-singular (you) | You will come out of the closet when there is no fear of persecution. You are going to come out of the closet when there is no fear of persecution. |
You will not come out of the closet until there is no fear of persecution. You are not going to come out of the closet until there is no fear of persecution. |
Will you come out of the closet when there is no fear of persecution? Are you going to come out of the closet when there is no fear of persecution? |
| Third-singular (he) | He will come out of the closet when there is no fear of persecution. He is going to come out of the closet when there is no fear of persecution. |
He will not come out of the closet until there is no fear of persecution. He is not going to come out of the closet until there is no fear of persecution. |
Will he come out of the closet when there is no fear of persecution? Is he going to come out of the closet when there is no fear of persecution? |
| Third-singular (she) | She will come out of the closet when there is no fear of persecution. She is going to come out of the closet when there is no fear of persecution. |
She will not come out of the closet until there is no fear of persecution. She is not going to come out of the closet until there is no fear of persecution. |
Will she come out of the closet when there is no fear of persecution? Is she going to come out of the closet when there is no fear of persecution? |
| Third-singular (it) | not applicable |
not applicable |
not applicable |
| First-plural (we) | We will come out of the closet when there is no fear of persecution. We are going to come out of the closet when there is no fear of persecution. |
We will not come out of the closet until there is no fear of persecution. We are not going to come out of the closet until there is no fear of persecution. |
Will we come out of the closet when there is no fear of persecution? Are we going to come out of the closet when there is no fear of persecution? |
| Second-plural (you all) | You (all) will come out of the closet when there is no fear of persecution. You (all) are going to come out of the closet when there is no fear of persecution. |
You (all) will not come out of the closet until there is no fear of persecution. You (all) are not going to come out of the closet until there is no fear of persecution. |
Will you (all) come out of the closet when there is no fear of persecution? Are you (all) going to come out of the closet when there is no fear of persecution? |
| Third-plural (they) | They will come out of the closet when there is no fear of persecution. They are going to come out of the closet when there is no fear of persecution. |
They will not come out of the closet until there is no fear of persecution. They are not going to come out of the closet until there is no fear of persecution. |
Will they come out of the closet when there is no fear of persecution? Are they going to come out of the closet when there is no fear of persecution? |
| PERSON | idiom in the positive | idiom in the negative | idiom as a question |
|---|---|---|---|
| First-singular (I) | I will be coming out of the closet during the next family reunion. I am going to be coming out of the closet during the next family reunion. |
I will not be coming out of the closet during the next family reunion. I am not going to be coming out of the closet during the next family reunion. |
Will I be coming out of the closet during the next family reunion? Am I going to be coming out of the closet during the next family reunion? |
| Second-singular (you) | You will be coming out of the closet during the next family reunion. You are going to be coming out of the closet during the next family reunion. |
You will not be coming out of the closet during the next family reunion. You are not going to be coming out of the closet during the next family reunion. |
Will you be coming out of the closet during the next family reunion? Are you going to be coming out of the closet during the next family reunion? |
| Third-singular (he) | He will be coming out of the closet during the next family reunion. He is going to be coming out of the closet during the next family reunion. |
He will not be coming out of the closet during the next family reunion. He is not going to be coming out of the closet during the next family reunion. |
Will he be coming out of the closet during the next family reunion? Is he going to be coming out of the closet during the next family reunion? |
| Third-singular (she) | She will be coming out of the closet during the next family reunion. She is going to be coming out of the closet during the next family reunion. |
She will not be coming out of the closet during the next family reunion. She is not going to be coming out of the closet during the next family reunion. |
Will she be coming out of the closet during the next family reunion? Is she going to be coming out of the closet during the next family reunion? |
| Third-singular (it) | not applicable |
not applicable |
not applicable |
| First-plural (we) | We will be coming out of the closet during the next family reunion. We are going to be coming out of the closet during the next family reunion. |
We will not be coming out of the closet during the next family reunion. We are not going to be coming out of the closet during the next family reunion. |
Will we be coming out of the closet during the next family reunion? Are we going to be coming out of the closet during the next family reunion? |
| Second-plural (you all) | You (all) will be coming out of the closet during the next family reunion. You (all) are going to be coming out of the closet during the next family reunion. |
You (all) will not be coming out of the closet during the next family reunion. You (all) are not going to be coming out of the closet during the next family reunion. |
Will you (all) be coming out of the closet during the next family reunion? Are you (all) going to be coming out of the closet during the next family reunion? |
| Third-plural (they) | They will be coming out of the closet during the next family reunion. They are going to be coming out of the closet during the next family reunion. |
They will not be coming out of the closet during the next family reunion. They are not going to be coming out of the closet during the next family reunion. |
Will they be coming out of the closet during the next family reunion? Are they going to be coming out of the closet during the next family reunion? |
| PERSON | idiom in the positive | idiom in the negative | idiom as a question |
|---|---|---|---|
| First-singular (I) | I will have come out of the closet before the next family reunion. I am going to have come out of the closet before the next family reunion. |
I will not have come out of the closet before the next family reunion. I am not going to have come out of the closet before the next family reunion. |
Will I have come out of the closet before the next family reunion? Am I going to have come out of the closet before the next family reunion? |
| Second-singular (you) | You will have come out of the closet before the next family reunion. You are going to have come out of the closet before the next family reunion. |
You will not have come out of the closet before the next family reunion. You are not going to have come out of the closet before the next family reunion. |
Will you have come out of the closet before the next family reunion? Are you going to have come out of the closet before the next family reunion? |
| Third-singular (he) | He will have come out of the closet before the next family reunion. He is going to have come out of the closet before the next family reunion. |
He will not have come out of the closet before the next family reunion. He is not going to have come out of the closet before the next family reunion. |
Will he have come out of the closet before the next family reunion? Is he going to have come out of the closet before the next family reunion? |
| Third-singular (she) | She will have come out of the closet before the next family reunion. She is going to have come out of the closet before the next family reunion. |
She will not have come out of the closet before the next family reunion. She is not going to have come out of the closet before the next family reunion. |
Will she have come out of the closet before the next family reunion? Is she going to have come out of the closet before the next family reunion? |
| Third-singular (it) | not applicable |
not applicable |
not applicable |
| First-plural (we) | We will have come out of the closet before the next family reunion. We are going to have come out of the closet before the next family reunion. |
We will not have come out of the closet before the next family reunion. We are not going to have come out of the closet before the next family reunion. |
Will we have come out of the closet before the next family reunion? Are we going to have come out of the closet before the next family reunion? |
| Second-plural (you all) | You (all) will have come out of the closet before the next family reunion. You (all) are going to have come out of the closet before the next family reunion. |
You (all) will not have come out of the closet before the next family reunion. You (all) are not going to have come out of the closet before the next family reunion. |
Will you (all) have come out of the closet before the next family reunion? Are you (all) going to have come out of the closet before the next family reunion?
|
| Third-plural (they) | They will have come out of the closet before the next family reunion. They are going to have come out of the closet before the next family reunion. |
They will not have come out of the closet before the next family reunion. They are not going to have come out of the closet before the next family reunion. |
Will they have come out of the closet before the next family reunion? Are they going to have come out of the closet before the next family reunion? |
| PERSON | idiom in the positive | idiom in the negative | idiom as a question |
|---|---|---|---|
| First-singular (I) | I will have been coming out of the closet all year by the time gay marriage becomes law. I am going to have been coming out of the closet all year by the time gay marriage becomes law. |
I will not have been coming out of the closet all year by the time gay marriage becomes law. I am not going to have been coming out of the closet all year by the time gay marriage becomes law. |
Will I have been coming out of the closet all year by the time gay marriage becomes law? Am I going to have been coming out of the closet all year by the time gay marriage becomes law? |
| Second-singular (you) | You will have been coming out of the closet all year by the time gay marriage becomes law. You are going to have been coming out of the closet all year by the time gay marriage becomes law. |
You will not have been coming out of the closet all year by the time gay marriage becomes law. You are not going to have been coming out of the closet all year by the time gay marriage becomes law. |
Will you have been coming out of the closet all year by the time gay marriage becomes law? Are you going to have been coming out of the closet all year by the time gay marriage becomes law? |
| Third-singular (he) | He will have been coming out of the closet all year by the time gay marriage becomes law. He is going to have been coming out of the closet all year by the time gay marriage becomes law. |
He will not have been coming out of the closet all year by the time gay marriage becomes law. He is not going to have been coming out of the closet all year by the time gay marriage becomes law. |
Will he have been coming out of the closet all year by the time gay marriage becomes law? Is he going to have been coming out of the closet all year by the time gay marriage becomes law? |
| Third-singular (she) | She will have been coming out of the closet all year by the time gay marriage becomes law. She is going to have been coming out of the closet all year by the time gay marriage becomes law. |
She will not have been coming out of the closet all year by the time gay marriage becomes law. She is not going to have been coming out of the closet all year by the time gay marriage becomes law. |
Will she have been coming out of the closet all year by the time gay marriage becomes law? Is she going to have been coming out of the closet all year by the time gay marriage becomes law? |
| Third-singular (it) | not applicable |
not applicable |
not applicable |
| First-plural (we) | We will have been coming out of the closet all year by the time gay marriage becomes law. We are going to have been coming out of the closet all year by the time gay marriage becomes law. |
We will not have been coming out of the closet all year by the time gay marriage becomes law. We are not going to have been coming out of the closet all year by the time gay marriage becomes law. |
Will we have been coming out of the closet all year by the time gay marriage becomes law? Are we going to have been coming out of the closet all year by the time gay marriage becomes law? |
| Second-plural (you all) | You (all) will have been coming out of the closet all year by the time gay marriage becomes law. You (all) are going to have been coming out of the closet all year by the time gay marriage becomes law. |
You (all) will not have been coming out of the closet all year by the time gay marriage becomes law. You (all) are not going to have been coming out of the closet all year by the time gay marriage becomes law. |
Will you (all) have been coming out of the closet all year by the time gay marriage becomes law? Are you (all) going to have been coming out of the closet all year by the time gay marriage becomes law? |
| Third-plural (they) | They will have been coming out of the closet all year by the time gay marriage becomes law. They are going to have been coming out of the closet all year by the time gay marriage becomes law. |
They will not have been coming out of the closet all year by the time gay marriage becomes law. They are not going to have been coming out of the closet all year by the time gay marriage becomes law. |
Will they have been coming out of the closet all year by the time gay marriage becomes law? Are they going to have been coming out of the closet all year by the time gay marriage becomes law? |
