Quote
1. Quote - Listen to the quote and guess what the slang means.
“Once the seasons had gone around once, I started to notice a lightening of my mood. I was coming out of my shell a little bit.”
- Paul McCartney, talking about his sadness after his wife Linda died.
Definition
1. Definition - Study the definition.
stop being withdrawn; open your heart and mind to life; stop being insecure; stop being shy; become more confident
Also:
become happier and less upset; change your mood from bad to good; stop thinking about your sadness and start thinking about positive things;
A good thought from Srikanth:
“The phrase brings to mind the tortoise: it goes into a shell when it feels insecure and comes out when it feels better.”
2. Use - Learn how the slang is used.
You can use this phrase to describe a person who is becoming more happy and outgoing. For example, if one of your friends is very quiet and shy, but then starts acting more confident and social, he is “coming out of his shell.”
Someone who has been very sad for a long time, but is starting to feel better, is “coming out of her shell.”
Examples
1. Examples - Hear some example sentences.
””Mike used to be so shy. He was scared to talk to anybody. But now he always says “Hello” to me when I see him. Maybe he’s coming out of his shell.”“
””Jane was really sad after her mom died. She didn’t want to see anyone for months. But now she’s coming out of her shell. She’s feeling a lot better.”“
””When are you going to come out of your shell? You’ve been quiet and shy for too long. It’s time to start being the fun person you used to be!”“
Winners
1. Winners - See who guessed the slang definition correctly.
“Coming out of my shell” conveys that the person who says he is coming out of a bad patch. Like getting over a depression, or overcoming grief or shock that had made him withdrawn. The phrase brings to mind the tortoise:it goes into a shell when it feels insecure and comes out when it feels better.
by Srikanth (Bangalore, India)
The slang “coming out of my shell” means he was getting out of his sadness and he was opening his heart for life again.
by Angela (Sao Paulo, Brazil)
When you stop shutting yourself up and become outgoing, you come out of your shell.
by Yoshi (Yokohama, Japan)
I think “coming out of my shell” means to start lightening up little by little.
by Ria
“Coming out of my shell” means to stop being shy or quiet.
by Dana (Dubai)
To come out from one’s shell means to become less shy and retiring.
by Chiara (Sardinia, Italy)
It means more happy, less upset, and open-minded with a good mood.
by Zhirong (Athens, GA, USA)
Coming out of my shell means stepping out of my inner world and starting to communicate with others.
by Synnix (China)