2. Finally he decided to come out and announce to his family that he is gay.
最后他終于決定要出柜了.
Come out 這個片語有非常多的用法,比方說書或專輯的出版:"The book will come out next month(這本書下個月出版)." 或是東西跑出來,例如:"The rat won't come out(這只老鼠不愿出來)." 但是在同性戀的用法里有個特殊的解釋,就是"出柜",也就是說一位同性戀者向大家宣布他是同性戀的身份.
為什么叫"出柜"而不是"出屋"或是出其它東西?我想這跟上一句的 closet friend 是有關的.Closet 就是指柜子而言,而從 come out of the closet,你說不叫"出柜"還能叫什么呢?
come out of the closet:to admit something openly that you kept secret before, especially because of shame or embarrassment 公開承認秘密(尤指因恥辱或尷尬而一直保守著的秘密)
Homosexuals in public life are now coming out of the closet. 公眾人物中的同性戀者如今正逐步亮相.