closet

English translation: [dictionary definition]

14:36 Nov 12, 2019

English language (monolingual) [PRO]
General / Conversation / Greetings / Letters / self-soothing strategies

English term or phrase: closet

Dear colleagues, I was wondering about the meaning of “closet” in the following passages taken from an American parenting book.
Probably because I tend to feel a little bit claustrophobic, I find it difficult to imagine a little child in a small space... What can “closet” mean in this case? Maybe a large walk–in wardrobe? Or a storeroom? Considering the second occurrence of “closet”, maybe it’s more in the sense of “storeroom”…
Thank you very much for your help!
********************
1)
Sometimes we just need to get away, to remove ourselves from a high-stress situation. Our kids are no different. Having a place to retreat and recover when they feel strong emotions beginning to take over can be a great tool for returning to the green zone. So at a moment when your child feels calm and collected, take a few minutes to set up a “calm cave” she can go to the next time she becomes upset.
A small pup tent in the living room can serve this purpose, as can ** a corner of a closet **, or a sheet over a desk or table. You and your child can fill the cave with favorite stuffed animals, a soft pillow and blanket, books, a pair of headphones, Play-Doh, or anything else that gives your child comfort. Empower your child by letting her participate in the creation of the calming place.

2)
(…)
Notice, too, that as with most of our principles and strategies, everything here applies to adults as well. (So maybe you want to go clear out some room *** in the back of your own closet *** with a stash of chocolate?)

haribert KudoZ activity Questions: 289 (none open) (1 without valid answers) (1 closed without grading) Answers: 524
Local time: 16:16

Selected answer:[dictionary definition]

Explanation:
"A cabinet or recess for especially china, household utensils, or clothing"
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/closet

I don't agree with the three previous answers - a closet is a space used specifically for storage. It could be a freestanding piece of furniture, or a little alcove with a door, or a small room in its own right. I have all three in my house, and my American wife calls them all closets.

Selected response from:

philgoddard
United States

Grading comment

Thank you so much, Phil, for your help! Many many thanks also to the other participants who shared their own experiences and knowledge!
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer

SUMMARY OF ALL EXPLANATIONS PROVIDED

4 +13

[dictionary definition]

philgoddard

Armário

Pedro Montoro Françozo

A small space which make you feel secure and confortable when you want to be alone

Najme Rajaee

any space enclosed enough to provide feeling of security and protection

Laura Hafner

walk in wardrobe

AJ Ablooglu

a small, secret and confortable place/ area where we can get stressful situations away from us.

Roberta Broccoletti

Discussion entries: 5

Answers

8 mins confidence:

A small space which make you feel secure and confortable when you want to be alone

Explanation:
.

Najme Rajaee
Iran
Native speaker of:

Persian (Farsi)

8 mins confidence:

any space enclosed enough to provide feeling of security and protection

Explanation:
My personal interpretation of "closet" here is any enclosed space that makes the child/person feel protected from distressing outside input. It doesn't have to literally be a small closet, just any space that feels protective and "cocoon-like".

Laura Hafner
Canada
Local time: 10:16
Works in field
Native speaker of:

English,

Portuguese

10 mins confidence:

walk in wardrobe

Explanation:
I agree with your interpretation.

AJ Ablooglu
Türkiye
Local time: 10:16
Native speaker of:

Turkish

26 mins confidence:

peer agreement (net): +13

[dictionary definition]

philgoddard
United States
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 119

Grading comment

Thank you so much, Phil, for your help! Many many thanks also to the other participants who shared their own experiences and knowledge!

Notes to answerer

Asker: Thank you so much, Phil, for sharing not only dictionary definition, but also your own personal experience! Actually, your proposal would fit with both instances of "closet" in the text...

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)

agree

Sheri P: Agree it's the basic literal dictionary definition of American 'closet', but definitely not a freestanding piece of furniture.//I mean, in this specific instance it's not referring to a freestanding piece of furniture.

8 mins

-> Thanks. It could be, but I agree it's more likely to be an alcove or small room here.

agree

Sheila Wilson

18 mins

agree

Tina Vonhof (X): I agree with your description and also with Sheri: it is usually built in, has a door, and is primarily meant to hang clothes. Hiding between the clothes can indeed feel very secure and soothing, and lots of children like to do it.

34 mins

-> I do it when I miss deadlines :-)

agree

AJ Ablooglu

34 mins

agree

Elias Marios Kounas

1 hr

agree

Tony M

1 hr

agree

Katalin Horváth McClure

5 hrs

agree

Katya Kesten

6 hrs

agree

AllegroTrans

7 hrs

agree

B D Finch: Me and my brother used to hide in cupboards when we were small - sometimes even on upper shelves.

1 day 3 hrs

agree

jccantrell: In the USA, this would rarely be a piece of furniture. Most houses have a small room adjacent to every bedroom for storing clothing. I never saw this in Europe, but they are everywhere in the USA. Realtors speak of 'how much closet space' a house has.

1 day 12 hrs

agree

Roberto Govia

4 days

agree

JaneTranslates: Excellent answer. I agree with jccantrell--in the US, a closet for clothes is a little room within a bedroom, and a linen closet is a built-in cabinet in a wall. I would never refer to a piece of furniture as a closet though I know a few Americans who do.

27 days

31 mins confidence:

a small, secret and confortable place/ area where we can get stressful situations away from us.

Explanation:
that's my idea:

a small, secret and confortable place where we can get stressful situations away from us

Roberta Broccoletti
Italy
Local time: 16:16
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Italian

10 hrs confidence:

Armário

Explanation:
You have to take into account one very important aspect in this: How does the source/target audience relate to closets. Perhaps in a different culture (mine, for example, being Brazilian) a closet would mean a wooden piece of furniture, which wouldn't always have room for one to comfortably sit in. However, in the US a closet is most likely a hole in teh wall of the room with a foldable door or maybe even just curtains. It is a very common-place thing to see kids, especially when they are hiding, sitting inside those, as if they were forts, or something similar. A parent is likely to have the same kind of closet in their bedroom, only slightly bigger, perhaps just big enough taht you can take one step into it before you hit the shelves. I believe it is one such space where a mom would have a stash of sweet goods for her own comfrot, away from the child, especially if u consider that in any of those circumstances, if it were any other kind of closet around the house, it would always be a location of public access, which grants you no safety from outside intruders, who could take you or your candy.

Example sentence(s):

She was hiding in the bedroom closet from the killer.

Pedro Montoro Françozo
Brazil
Local time: 11:16
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Portuguese

Notes to answerer

Asker: Hi, Pedro! Thank you for your useful explanation!

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