How to Pronounce "put the cork back in the bottle"
expression
PUT thuh KORK BAK in thuh BOT-l
PUT thuh KAWK BAK in thuh BOT-ul
Definition
To try to reverse or undo something that has already happened and cannot easily be changed; often refers to an action or situation that can't be undone.
IPA Transcription
American English
ˈpʊt/ /ˈðə/, /ðə/, /ði/ /ˈkɔɹk/ /ˈbæk/ /ˈɪn/, /ɪn/ /ˈðə/, /ðə/, /ði/ /ˈbɑtəɫ
British English
pʊt/ /ðə, ði/ /kˈɔːk/ /bˈæk/ /ˈɪn/ /ðə, ði/ /bˈɒtəl
Simplified Pronunciation
US
PUT thuh KORK BAK in thuh BOT-l
UK
PUT thuh KAWK BAK in thuh BOT-ul
Listen in Context
After making the announcement, it was impossible to put the cork back in the bottle.
You can't just take it back; you can't put the cork back in the bottle now.
Some mistakes can't be fixed; you can't always put the cork back in the bottle.
Once the information leaked, there was no chance to put the cork back in the bottle.