COME OUT OF YOUR SHELL

To come out of (or retreat into) your shell means to become less (or more) shy and retiring [1].

 “These little kids came out of their shell as they got creative at an Easter craft day.”

 “University brought me out of my shell and thrust me into a world where I learnt to stand on my own two feet.”

 “Not that I was against such an interaction, but it led to my first awkward moments, which served to push me further into my shell.”


 Photo credit: Jonathan Tellier (Creative Commons)

 [1] “shell” in Oxford Dictionary of English Idioms, edited by Ayto, John. Oxford University Press, 2009.