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coming-out party

coming-out party

4 6.8
A celebration when someone tells friends and family about their sexual orientation or gender identity
  • noun
  • /ˈkʌmɪŋ aʊt ˈpɑrti/
translation icon : fiesta de salida
  • This is the tiara that I wore at my own coming-out party.
  • a big coming-out party

Examples

  • Tonight is his coming-out party.

  • Actually, I suppose we ought to arrange some sort of coming-out party for you.

  • Today is your coming-out party.

  • We met at a mutual friend's 10th anniversary coming out party; I was the only straight guy there.

    Blog text (32)
  • We all saw Barnes' coming out party.

    Blog text (17)
  • Was this David Ash's coming out party?

    Blog text (24)
  • This was supposed to be Matt Flynn's coming-out party.

    Blog text (16)
  • Last night was definitely a nice coming out party for Barnes, and it seems that the extended time off might have been a boon for him in terms of getting more acclimated in practice and perhaps even having more plays drawn up for him.

    Blog text (17)
  • It was at Janice Paget's coming-out party: three hundred guests in formal evening wear surrounded him.

    Fiction book (1992)
  • I am excited to celebrate my friend's coming-out party this weekend with friends and family.

Antonyms

40 3.9

An outward appearance that hides someone's real identity or intentions

8 5.0

Keeping something hidden or secret

How Public

celebration
  • Specialized
75 3.7
coming-out party
4 6.8
party of sorts
  • Informal
7.2
quiet word
2 5.6

Surface Forms

Morphology

coming-out + party

The core phrase 'coming out' is an idiomatic, culturally specific use meaning to publicly reveal one’s sexual orientation or gender identity, which is not directly derivable from the literal meanings of 'come/coming' + 'out'. Adding the transparent word 'party' only signals a social gathering; it does not make the idiomatic sense of 'coming out' predictable to a B1 learner who knows the constituent words but lacks exposure to this sociocultural usage.

Etymology

Coming-out party comes from the image of coming out — stepping out of hiding — and a party, a happy gathering; picture someone opening a door into a room of friends who cheer. So, the phrase means 'a celebration when someone tells people about their sexual orientation or gender identity'.