come out of one's shell
To become more socially active or gregarious.
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
“She is finally coming out of her shell at school.”
“After joining the drama club, he really came out of his shell and made many new friends.”
“The quiet student gradually came out of her shell as she gained confidence in her ability to contribute to the group discussions.”
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abound in one's own sense
To follow one’s own inclinations and opinions.
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ace up one's sleeve
A surprise advantage of which others are not aware.
- 03
act one's age
To behave in a manner appropriate to one's age.
- 04
act one's age, not one's shoe size
Synonym of act one's age (“to behave in a mature manner; to avoid being childish”).
- 05
afraid of one's own shadow
Exceptionally timid.
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air one's dirty laundry in public
To reveal one's sordid secrets to the public.
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air one's dirty linen in public
Synonym of air one's dirty laundry in public.
- 08
albatross around one's neck
A characteristic, possession, associate, or previous deed that hinders one's ability to succeed.
Last updated August 10, 2026