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UKnew wine in an old bottle
/njˈuː wˈaɪn ɪn ɐn ˈəʊld bˈɒtəl/
/nˈuː wˈaɪn ɪn ɐn ˈoʊld bˈɑːɾəl/new wine in an old bottle
[PHRASE]1
used to refer to any situation where new ideas or technologies are introduced into an existing system that is not equipped to handle them, which can lead to conflict, frustration, and even failure
What is the origin of the idiom "new wine in old bottles" and when to use it?
The idiom "new wine in old bottles" originates from a metaphor used by Jesus in the New Testament of the Bible, illustrating that new ideas or teachings cannot fit or thrive within old, inflexible structures. It emphasizes the need for compatible frameworks to accommodate innovation and change.
2
used to refer to presenting or marketing something as if it is old or traditional when, in reality, it is a new or contemporary creation
Examples
1. The state's newly elected governor is trying to put new wine in old bottles by revitalizing several different institutions and infrastructures with bold, progressive changes.
2. The company had tried to implement new technology on outdated infrastructure, but it was clear that you cannot put new wine in old bottles - they needed to invest in new systems.
3. I don't know whether the story I've tried to tell, and have told in this book, is new wine in old bottles or old wine in new bottles or maybe it's well-chilled Chardonnay in a wonderful glass of its own.
4. I think this idea of new wine in old bottles, if you will, as immigrants came in and sort of took over, inherited a sort of older, rundown city and rebuilt it has been happening across the country, and particularly in the older cities.
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