bottle
A1Neutral (used in all registers from formal to informal)
Definition
Meaning
A container, typically made of glass or plastic, with a narrow neck, used for storing liquids.
The contents of such a container (e.g., 'a bottle of milk'); also, slang for courage or nerve ('to lose one's bottle'); in British slang, to violently confront someone.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The core meaning refers to the physical object. The extended meaning 'contents' is a common metonymy. The 'courage' meaning is informal/British slang. As a verb, it means to put into a bottle or, in British English, to fail to do something due to fear.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Verb 'to bottle (it)' meaning to lose nerve is chiefly British. 'Baby's bottle' is standard in both, but 'feeding bottle' is more common in UK English. The slang 'bottle' meaning courage/nerve is British.
Connotations
In UK, 'bottle' can strongly connote courage in informal contexts ('He's got a lot of bottle'). This connotation is largely absent in US English.
Frequency
The noun is equally frequent in both varieties. The verb meaning 'to lose nerve' has high frequency in UK informal speech but is rare in US English.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Verb] + bottle: open/crack/uncork a bottle[Verb] + bottle + of + [liquid]: drink/finish a bottle of wine[Adjective] + bottle: empty/full/broken bottleVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “hit the bottle (start drinking alcohol heavily)”
- “crack open a bottle (open a bottle to celebrate)”
- “the genie is out of the bottle (something cannot be undone)”
- “bottle it (UK: to lose one's nerve)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Refers to packaging, manufacturing, and supply chain (e.g., 'bottling plant', 'returnable bottle scheme').
Academic
Used in chemistry, environmental studies (plastic waste), and economics (container deposit laws).
Everyday
Universal term for drink containers, baby feeding, and recycling.
Technical
Specific types: Erlenmeyer flask, Schott bottle in labs; PET bottle in manufacturing.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The company bottles spring water from Wales.
- He was going to complain, but he bottled it at the last minute.
American English
- They bottle the soda at a local factory.
- He bottled his anger and walked away. (less common as slang for losing nerve)
adjective
British English
- The bottle bank is full of green glass.
- He's a bottle blonde.
American English
- The bottle deposit is five cents.
- She has a bottle-green car.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I drink a bottle of water every day.
- Please put the empty bottle in the recycling bin.
- Could you uncork the wine bottle?
- She filled the bottle with homemade lemonade.
- The new law aims to reduce single-use plastic bottle waste.
- He completely bottled his interview and couldn't answer the questions.
- The artist's message-in-a-bottle project connected strangers across oceans.
- Years of bottling up his grief finally took a toll on his health.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a BOTtle sitting on a TALL table. BOT-TLE.
Conceptual Metaphor
CONTAINER FOR EMOTIONS (e.g., 'bottle up your feelings'), SOURCE OF STRENGTH/COURAGE (e.g., 'find your bottle').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not use 'бутылка' for a baby's feeding bottle; use 'бутылочка'.
- The verb 'to bottle' (preserve) is not 'бутылировать' but 'консервировать' or 'разливать по бутылкам'.
- Russian 'бутылка' often implies alcohol; English 'bottle' is neutral.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'bottle' for a can (e.g., 'a bottle of Coke' when it's a can).
- Confusing 'bottle' with 'glass' (a glass is usually without a neck and not for storage).
- Incorrect plural: 'bottles', not 'bottls'.
- Misspelling as 'bottel'.
Practice
Quiz
What does 'bottle it' mean in British slang?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is countable when referring to the container ('two bottles'). It can be uncountable in UK slang for courage ('He's got bottle').
A bottle typically has a narrow neck and is for liquids. A jar has a wide opening and is often for solids or semi-solids (jam, pickles).
Yes. It means 1) to put into bottles ('bottle the beer'), 2) to preserve ('bottled fruit'), and 3) (UK informal) to lose nerve ('He bottled the penalty shot').
It is an idiom meaning to start drinking alcohol heavily, usually due to problems.