come out of the closet Definition

closet
noun

(chiefly N Amer)
1. A cupboard.
2. old use
A small private room.
3. old use
A water closet.
4. Secret; not openly declared.

Example: She was a closet gambler

verb

closeted, closeting
1. To shut up or away in private, eg for confidential discussion.

Idiom: be in the closet

colloq
To keep something secret, especially one's homosexuality.

Idiom: come out of the closet

colloq
To admit something openly, especially one's homosexuality.

Etymology: 14c: French diminutive of clos (see close¹).