bottle

A2 · Elementary Countable noun

n. a special container with a rubber top used to feed milk to a baby.

n. a vessel equipped with a teat or nipple, specifically designed for the artificial feeding of infants.

“The baby fell asleep while drinking his warm milk from the bottle.”

“Pediatricians often advise parents on the proper sterilization of the bottle to ensure the infant's health during the first few months.”

B2 · Upper Intermediate Uncountable noun British English · Informal

n. the bravery or nerve needed to do something difficult or scary.

n. the courage, nerve, or spirit required to undertake a challenging or dangerous task.

“He wanted to ask her on a date but he lost his bottle at the last minute.”

“Despite his initial bravado, the young climber lost his bottle when he looked down from the sheer cliff face.”

C1 · Advanced Uncountable noun Informal

n. a way to talk about drinking too much alcohol.

n. a metonymic reference to intoxicating liquor or the habit of drinking alcohol to excess.

“He has been hitting the bottle again since he lost his job.”

“The protagonist's struggle with the bottle serves as a central theme throughout the second act of the play.”

B1 · Intermediate

v. to put a liquid into bottles so it can be sold or kept for later.

v. to place a liquid into bottles for preservation, storage, or commercial distribution.

“The farm bottles its own apple juice to sell at the local market.”

“The brewery bottles thousands of liters of craft ale every hour using a highly automated production line.”

C1 · Advanced British English · Slang

v. to fail to do something because you suddenly become too afraid.

v. to fail to perform or complete an action due to a sudden loss of confidence or courage.

“The striker was about to take the penalty but he bottled it.”

“The candidate was expected to challenge the leader during the debate, but he bottled it when the cameras started rolling.”

C1 · Advanced Sports British English · Slang

v. to lose a game or competition after being in a winning position.

v. to fail to maintain a leading position in a sporting event or competition, resulting in a loss.

“The team was winning three-zero but they bottled the final ten minutes.”

“Critics argued that the team bottled the championship by losing three consecutive games against much weaker opponents.”