bottle up

To keep strong feelings inside instead of expressing them.

• Don’t bottle up your feelings.
• He bottled up his anger all day.
• Why have you been bottling everything up?

How to use it: bottle something up (She bottled her disappointment up for weeks.)

Similar words: suppress, repress, hold in

Opposites: express, release

Common phrases: bottle up feelings, bottle up anger

To put a drink or other liquid into bottles.

• We bottled up the apple juice.
• She will bottle up the wine tomorrow.
• Have you bottled the last batch up?

How to use it: bottle something up (We bottled the juice up for winter.)

Similar words: bottle

Common phrases: bottle up wine, bottle up something

To prevent an opponent from moving freely or doing anything useful.

• The defenders bottled up their best player.
• Our attack was bottled up for most of the match.
• They tried to bottle him up before he could pass.

How to use it: bottle someone up (Two defenders bottled the striker up near the touchline.)

Similar words: contain, neutralize, restrain

Opposites: free

Common phrases: bottle up an opponent, bottle up a striker

To stop enemy ships from leaving a harbor by blocking their way.

• The navy bottled up the enemy fleet.
• Their ships were bottled up in port.
• Can we bottle up those vessels before they escape?

How to use it: bottle something up in somewhere (They bottled the enemy fleet up in the harbor.)

Similar words: blockade, trap

Opposites: release

Common phrases: bottle up a fleet, bottle up enemy ships

To beat an opponent completely.

• Our team bottled up its rivals.
• They were bottled up in the final match.
• The champion bottled him up and won easily.

How to use it: bottle someone up (The champions bottled their rivals up in the final.)

Similar words: crush, trounce

Common phrases: bottle up an opponent, bottle up a team