bottle out
verb
bottled out; bottling out; bottles out
British slang
: to become too afraid to do something : to lose one's nerve
I was going to ask him but then I bottled out.
Examples of bottle out in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Supplements And Medications Carson is also averse to keeping supplements and medications on the kitchen counter rather than tucking these bottles out of sight.
—
Sarah Lyon, Southern Living, 23 Apr. 2026
The Seaport is also home to the Boston Children’s Museum, unmistakable with its giant milk bottle out front.
—Kori Perten, AFAR Media, 24 Sep. 2025
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Sarah Lyon, Southern Living, 23 Apr. 2026
The Seaport is also home to the Boston Children’s Museum, unmistakable with its giant milk bottle out front.
—Kori Perten, AFAR Media, 24 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Bottle out.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bottle%20out. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
