message in a bottle

noun

A message written on a scrap of paper, rolled up and put in an empty bottle and set adrift on the ocean; traditionally, a method used by castaways to advertise their distress to the outside world.

Similar
sea-bottle
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Meanings

nounmessage in a bottle (plural messages in a bottle or messages in bottles)

plural messages in a bottle · plural messages in bottles

  1. A message written on a scrap of paper, rolled up and put in an empty bottle and set adrift on the ocean; traditionally, a method used by castaways to advertise their distress to the outside world.

    I'll send an SOS to the world / I hope that someone gets my / Message in a bottle

    1979, Sting, “Message in a Bottle”, in Reggatta de Blanc, performed by The Police

    Synonyms: sea-bottle

  2. figurativelyAn analogous message sent off into the world or universe without knowledge of who the recipient will be: plaques on craft launched into outer space, interstellar radio messages, stationary time capsules, balloon mail, and so on.

    'Cause you could be the one that I love, oh, oh, oh / I could be the one that you dream of, of, of / A message in a bottle is all I can do-oo / Standin' here, hopin' it gets to you

    2021, Taylor Swift, Max Martin, Shellback, “Message in a Bottle”, in Red (Taylor's Version), performed by Taylor Swift

Synonyms & antonyms

nounA message written on a scrap of paper, rolled up and put in an empty bottle and set adrift on the ocean; traditionally, a method used by castaways to advertise their distress to the outside world.

Similar
sea-bottle

Translations

Danish flaskepost
  • flaskepostmessage put in an empty bottle and set adrift on the ocean
Dutch flessenpost
  • flessenpostmessage put in an empty bottle and set adrift on the ocean
Finnish pulloposti
  • pullopostimessage put in an empty bottle and set adrift on the ocean
French bouteille à la mer
  • bouteille à la mermessage put in an empty bottle and set adrift on the ocean
German Flaschenpost
  • Flaschenpostmessage put in an empty bottle and set adrift on the ocean
Icelandic flöskuskeyti
  • flöskuskeytimessage put in an empty bottle and set adrift on the ocean
Italian messaggio in bottiglia
  • messaggio in bottigliamessage put in an empty bottle and set adrift on the ocean
Japanese ボトルメール
  • ボトルメールmessage put in an empty bottle and set adrift on the ocean
Polish wiadomość w butelce
  • wiadomość w butelcemessage put in an empty bottle and set adrift on the ocean
Swedish flaskpost
  • flaskpostmessage put in an empty bottle and set adrift on the ocean
Cite this entry
APA

message in a bottle. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/message%20in%20a%20bottle

MLA

“message in a bottle.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/message%20in%20a%20bottle. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “message in a bottle,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/message%20in%20a%20bottle.

Source: message in a bottle on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.