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Old Wine in a New Bottle

What Does "Old Wine in a New Bottle" Mean?

homeidiomsOld Wine in a New Bottle
"Old wine in a new bottle" is an English idiom. It refers to something that appears new or fresh but is actually a rebranding or repackaging of something old or familiar.

Examples in Sentences

Here are three examples of the idiom "old wine in a new bottle" used in a sentence:
  • The company claimed it had a revolutionary new product, but it was just old wine in a new bottle.
  • The movie was marketed as groundbreaking, but it felt like old wine in a new bottle with recycled ideas.
  • Reusing existing technology and presenting it as innovative can sometimes feel like old wine in a new bottle.
meaning for old wine in a new bottle

What Is an Idiom?

An idiom is a commonly used expression whose meaning does not relate to the literal meaning of its words. In other words, if you were to translate "Old Wine in a New Bottle" word for word, there is no guarantee the translation would help you to understand the meaning.

An idiom often includes a cultural or historical context that makes it difficult for non-native English speakers to understand. A phrase is classified as an idiom when a direct translation of the words does not reveal the meaning. Most idioms rely on shared knowledge or experiences known only to a specific community.

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