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- bring out of shell
bring out of shell
bring (one) out of one's shell
and get one out of one's shell; bring one out; get one outFig. to make a person become more open and friendly. (Alludes to a shy turtle being coaxed to put its head out of its shell.) We tried to bring Greg out of his shell, but he is very shy. He's quiet, and it's hard to get him out of his shell.