Learn English with English, baby!

Join for FREE!

Social_nav_masthead_logged_in
 
coming out of the closet

coming out of the closet

Date: Dec 22 2005

Quote

1. Quote - Listen to the quote and guess what the slang means.

“I’m not coming out of the closet

Mike Piazza, former catcher and first-baseman for the New York Mets, in a telephone interview.

Definition

1. Definition - Study the definition.

to tell others that you are gay or homosexual; to openly admit your homosexuality

2. Use - Learn how the slang is used.

To come out of the closet means to tell your friends and family that you are gay. A lot homosexual men and women are afraid to tell others that they are gay. These people are in the closet about their homosexuality, though one day they might come out and tell their friends and family about their homosexuality.

For a long time, there have been rumors that Mike Piazza is gay. He keeps telling people that he is not gay, and in 2005 he even married a woman – former Baywatch star Alicia Rickter.

Some celebrities who have come out of the closet include musicians George Michael, Michael Stipe (R.E.M.) and Elton John, who plans to marry his partner when gay marriage is legalized in London.

Many people say that Tom Cruise and Ricky Martin are in the closet. What do you think?

Examples

1. Examples - Hear some example sentences.

“Kevin was afraid of coming out of the closet, but his parents were very supportive when he did.”

Winners

1. Winners - See who guessed the slang definition correctly.

Not openly admit something; tell someone the truth to his face.
by @Home
I think it is to show something (private) about yourself, wich others don't know.
by regisplandim
he is straight
by nostalgia
Show the sexual preferences. I mean, he isn´t showing if he´s gay or not.
by masuller
coming out of the closet means publicly saying that you are gay
by leila_beatles
someone is unfaithful to his or her partner(boyfriend/girlfriend, husband/wife)
by alice1
hossein99 reveal something, admit that you were secret about something. this phrase is used especially about homosexuals.
by hossein99
To tell people that he is not a homosexual. Is it right?
by shaqieer
- If someone comes out of the closet, they reveal or discuss something which they have previously kept secret. - If someone comes out of the closet, they tell people that they are homosexual after having kept this a secret.
by LiliyaJUMIK
i'm not admitting that i am gay
by solangenery
malegal it means"to state openly and publicly one's homosexuality";Or we could also say Mike "outed" this time around.(Don't take it as read though :)
by malegal

Want to guess next week's slang?

The iTEP® test

  • Schedule an iTEP® test and take the official English Practice Test.

    Take Now >

Likes (12):

See all >

Share this lesson:

  • Share on Facebook
  • Share on Bebo
  • Share on Myspace
  • Share on Twitter
  • Email this to a friend
  • Share on Sina

Post Ebaby! lessons on your blog:

Ebaby! Cast