Phrase guide

old wine in a new bottle

noun · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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No pronunciation record was provided for this word.

1

noun

Meaning 1

An existing concept or institution offered as though it were a new one.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic, uncountable

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

A reference to the parable of Jesus of New Wine into Old Wineskins, Matthew 9:14–17, Mark 2:21–22, and Luke 5:33–39.

Across languages

Translations

15 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Chinese Mandarin: 新瓶裝舊酒 /新瓶装旧酒 (xīn píng zhuāng jiù jiǔ) — existing concept or institution presented as if new
  • Danish: gammel vin på nye flasker — existing concept or institution presented as if new
  • Dutch: oude wijn in nieuwe flessen — existing concept or institution presented as if new
  • Finnish: vanhaa viiniä uudessa pullossa — existing concept or institution presented as if new
  • German: alter Wein in neuen Schläuchen — existing concept or institution presented as if new
  • German: Altes in neuem Gewand — existing concept or institution presented as if new
  • German: dasselbe in grün — existing concept or institution presented as if new
  • Hungarian: régi bor új tömlőben — existing concept or institution presented as if new
  • Hungarian: régi bort új tömlőbe — existing concept or institution presented as if new
  • Persian: ارایه ایده ای کهنه در لباسی نو — existing concept or institution presented as if new
  • Polish: stare wino w nowych bukłakach — existing concept or institution presented as if new
  • Russian: но́вое вино́ в ве́тхие ме́хи (nóvoje vinó v vétxije méxi) — existing concept or institution presented as if new
  • Spanish: el mismo perro con distinto collar — existing concept or institution presented as if new
  • Swedish: gammalt vin i en ny flaska — existing concept or institution presented as if new
  • Vietnamese: bình mới rượu cũ — existing concept or institution presented as if new