# come out of the woodwork

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/come-out-of-the-woodwork
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

To appear or emerge unexpectedly or inexplicably, frequently in large numbers or quantity.

## Examples

- Suddenly, old friends come out of the woodwork when you win money.
- As soon as the company announced the new project, critics came out of the woodwork to complain about the budget.
- Following the controversial public statement, long-forgotten rivals and anonymous detractors seemed to come out of the woodwork to challenge his leadership.

## Origin

From the idea of insects crawling out from inside the woodwork in a house.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.