be hardly out of the shell—be too young and inexperienced:
- You are hardly out of the shell and already you have the temerity to question the authority of the Talmud!
come out of one’s shell—(also: crawl out of one’s shell) become more sociable and outgoing:
- Under the soothing influence of coffee and tobacco, he came out of his shell.
Cf.: go into one’s shell —(also: retire into one’s shell) become shy, quiet, or reserved:
- Every time the subject was raised, her son would go into his shell again.
Note: The expression is not equivalent in meaning to the phrase come out of the closet—admit openly smth. previously kept secret because one is ashamed or embarrassed about it:
- She has decided to come out of the closet today and discuss her life as lesbian.