come out of the woodwork
Appear from nowhere
To come out of the woodwork is to emerge unexpectedly, often in large numbers, like insects appearing from cracks in wooden structures.
The phrase typically carries a negative connotation—people who come out of the woodwork are unwelcome or opportunistic: When she won the lottery, long-lost relatives came out of the woodwork.
It suggests hidden presence suddenly made visible.
- long-lostAbsent for ages
- emergeCome out into view
- appearBecome perceptible to sight
- revealMake something visible
- pop upAppear abruptly, unexpectedly
pop out · surface · out of nowhere · disclose · influx · manifest · materialize · opportunists · fair weather friends · concealed · hidden agenda · show up · unnoticed · claimants · freeloaders · expose · surprise · swarm
come out of the woodworkdisappear
Pass from visibility
go into hiding · vanish · slip away · go underground · keep a low profile
come out of the woodworkkeep one's head down
Avoid drawing attention
keep to oneself · fly under the radar · duck out · bow out · step back