Bottle
Feifei has to give a big presentation at work, and she's feeling a bit nervous. She plans to deal with her fear by slowing down and drinking water… but this doesn't help. Learn a phrase involving bottles that describes when you're too afraid to do something.
Neil
So, big presentation today, Feifei! How are you feeling?
Feifei
Yeah, I'm ok, Neil. All prepared. I do feel a bit nervous… I just need to remind myself to slow down and take a sip of water when I feel anxious!
Neil
Good plan! OK, I'll see you later. Good luck… Hey! So how did it go?
Feifei
Not great.
Neil
What happened? You lost your bottle?
Feifei
Actually, I took a glass of water.
Neil
Oh right. You know the phrase 'to lose your bottle' means 'to lose your confidence and fail to do something, or decide not to do it'.
Feifei
Thanks for teaching me this phrase when I'm feeling awful.
Neil
Yes, sorry. You can also simply say 'to bottle it' which also means 'to lose your courage and fail to do something'. Err, examples time?
Examples
He was going to ask his girlfriend to marry him but lost his bottle at the last minute. She asked him instead.
I thought about painting my front door bright green but I bottled it. I went for a conservative grey instead.
Feifei
Anyway Neil, aren't you giving a presentation this afternoon?
Neil
Err ... I was going to.
Feifei
Oh? You mean, you're not going to do it now?
Neil
Well, you see, I just had so much work on this week, and I've not really had time at all…
Feifei
Yeah, yeah, I get it. You bottled it.
Neil
You got me. I just hate presentations!
Feifei
Well, that makes two of us! Bye.
Neil
Bye.