in the closet

in the closet

Said of a non-heterosexual person who has not revealed their sexuality to others (a process often called "coming out (of the closet)"). After years in the closet, I refuse to hide my homosexuality. I'm a proud gay man!
See also: closet
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
See also:
  • closeted
  • come out of the closet
  • cishet
  • outed
  • sexual minority
  • (as) rare as rocking horse crap
  • (as) rare as rocking horse poo
  • (one) is on the DL
  • dl
References in classic literature
It is my husband!' she quickly hid the roast meat inside the tiled stove, the wine under the pillow, the salad on the bed, the cakes under it, and the parson in the closet on the porch.
'What did he say?' The peasant replied: 'He says that the Devil is hiding outside there in the closet on the porch.' The miller said:
Fairy Tales
He had barely time to catch a knife from the table, sheathe it in the loose sleeve of his coat, hide in the closet, and do all with the lightning's speed, when Barnaby tapped at the bare glass, and raised the sash exultingly.
Barnaby Rudge A Tale Of The Riots Of Eighty
There was a pleasant sunny window, where she had often sat singing at her sewing; there a little case of books, and various little fancy articles, ranged by them, the gifts of Christmas holidays; there was her simple wardrobe in the closet and in the drawers:--here was, in short, her home; and, on the whole, a happy one it had been to her.
Uncle Toms Cabin
IN THE CLOSET: Melamine closet shelving from Rubbermaid Home Products provides a place for everything in the house.
In the closet
It is remarkable how many other quintessential Canadian film images are contained in Touch of Pink: the absent father; the overbearing mother ("I'd like to get you off my back," Alim tells his mother); the homoerotic/homosexual subtext; parties with unhappy family overtones (here a sexual anniversary party held in a gay bar); the closet ("I love him so much I'm in the closet," says Alim); the Watcher (a character hidden from most, as Grant is hidden from all but Alim); a delusional hero/heroine (often going over the edge into madness); the inclusion of religious imagery/ discussion; and colonial references.
Touch of Pink: a Canadian cross-cultural comedy
Life in the closet was all but mandatory in the 1950s and '60s, when Bey's career first took off.
Openly Bey: at 64, master jazz vocalist Andy Bey is out and proud--and he's just made one of his best records yet