PhrasesHub

Bottle out

    Definitions

      • to back out or withdraw from something
        To fail to follow through on a commitment or plan, often due to fear or hesitation

      • to lose courage or confidence
        To become scared or uncertain about a situation, leading to a lack of action or decision making

      • to hide one's true feelings or intentions
        To refrain from being honest or open about one's thoughts or emotions, often in order to avoid confrontation or conflict

    Examples of Bottle out

    • When the finalists presented their projects to the board of directors, the CEO indicated "This is it. Let's bottle out this one". The project was successfully executed, and the company reaped huge profits.

      "Bottle out" is used in this example to indicate that the project is almost complete, and further progress won't make any substantial difference. It's akin to recognizing that the wine has reached its full maturity in the bottle, and it's now ready to be consumed. In this context, the CEO's expression means that the project has developed into its finest form and is now ready to be carried out.

    • The television show's final episode left the viewers in awe, and the producers' statement, "We've drawn the perfect picture. Let's bottle out" confirmed that the show had reached its optimum form. The viewers were not disappointed; instead, they were left wanting more.

      "Bottle out" in this case denotes that the perfection has been reached, and any further production would not improve the presentation's quality. The expression correlates with wine maturation which is taken out from the barrel when it reaches its perfect taste. The producers' statement meant that the final episode was all that a TV serial could aspire to be and gave the viewers a sense of fulfillment.

    • The basketball player, after a topsy-turvy season, declared, "This is it. We've crossed the time barrier. Let's bottle out". The team won their very first championship after years of struggle.

      In this scenario, "bottle out" signifies that the team had conquered the long-standing barrier and achieved success. It's akin to the wine which, for years, has aged and acquired a distinguished flavor that is now bottled and labeled as a premium drink. The player's statement meant that the team had reached such a stage when their performance could not improve any further; hence it was time to celebrate and bask in their victory.

    • The successful businesswoman said, "We've put in all the efforts. Now let's bottle out this particular project". The project turned out as a game-changer, and received accolades from the industry.

      "Bottle out" in this context suggests that the project had achieved a milestone, and further efforts would not improve its outcome. The expression means that the outcome has reached its maturity and is now ready to be served. The businesswoman's statement indicated that the project required no more indulgence as it had already established itself as a crucial factor for the company's success.In a nutshell, "bottle out" is a commonly used phrase that conveys the notion that something has reached perfection, and further efforts would not change its outcome, much like a fine wine that is bottled after years of aging.

    • The project seemed to be progressing smoothly, but suddenly everything came to a halt. We could sense that our team members had lost their motivation and weren't delivering as expected. In such a scenario, we decided to call everyone to a meeting and said, "Looks like we've hit a rough patch. Boys, it's time to 'bottle out' and brainstorm some ideas to get back on track."

      In this context, 'bottle out' means to pull back and regroup, to quit temporarily to regain strength or composure, in other words, to retreat.

    • My friend was pushing her limits at work, trying to finish multiple projects simultaneously. But a few days ago, she couldn't handle the pressure any longer and declared, "Okay, I'm 'bottling out' for a while. I need some space to think and recharge."

      Here, 'bottle out' can also mean to withdraw from or leave a situation for a while, to take a break for a short period.

    • The manager advised his team to 'bottle out' during the tense negotiations with the client. He said, "Let's not get carried away. Let's take a step back and 'bottle out' for a few moments to collect our thoughts and strategize."

      In this case, 'bottle out' denotes to temporarily recede or retire from a tense or tricky circumstance, to hold back or pull back, to quit or leave for a short while to contemplate a better course of action.

    • The team was under constant pressure to meet their quotas, and the sales figures were nose-diving. So, we decided to 'bottle out' and conduct a thorough market analysis instead of panicking. We said, "Let's not rush into any decisions right now. Instead, let's take a step back and 'bottle out' for a while to understand the market dynamics better."

      Here, 'bottle out' signifies to quit temporarily to examine the situation closely, to drop out or withdraw from a chaotic situation to analyze carefully what needs to be done.


    Conclusion

    "Bottle out" is a versatile idiom that can be used to describe a range of behaviors and actions related to fear, hesitation, and dishonesty. It can refer to backing out of a commitment or plan, losing courage or confidence, or hiding one's true intentions. In each case, the underlying theme is a lack of action or honesty, often due to fear or uncertainty.

    Origin of "Bottle out"

    The origin of the idiom "bottle out" is unclear, but it is believed to have originated in British slang in the early 20th century. The word "bottle" in this context refers to the idea of having the courage or fortitude to do something, while "out" means to back out or withdraw. The combination of these words likely came from the image of a person holding a bottle of alcohol and choosing to back out or "bottle out" of a dare or challenge.

    Some sources suggest that the idiom may also have been influenced by the phrase "to bottle up," which means to suppress or contain one's emotions or thoughts. This could explain the usage of "bottle out" to describe someone hiding their true feelings or intentions.

    Overall, the idiom "bottle out" is thought to have originated as a colorful and playful way to describe the act of backing out or withdrawing from something, while also conveying a sense of cowardice or dishonesty.