Meanings
alternative new wine in old bottles
- idiomaticuncountableA significant change introduced to an entrenched system or method.
But Western analysts have remained skeptical, calling the missiles, modified versions of existing conventional munitions, “new wine in old bottles.”
2023 May 6, Marc Santora, Eric Schmitt, John Ismay, “Ukraine Claims It Shot Down Russia’s Most Sophisticated Missile for First Time”, in The New York Times, →ISSNSynonyms: new wine in an old wineskin
- idiomaticuncountableA new thing passed off as old.
Synonyms & antonyms
nounA significant change introduced to an entrenched system or method.
Origin
From Matthew 9:17 of the King James Bible.
Full word history & related roots →Translations
German neuer Wein in alten Schläuchen, junger Wein in alten Schläuchen
- neuer Wein in alten SchläuchenTranslations
- junger Wein in alten SchläuchenTranslations
Hungarian új bor régi tömlőben, új bort régi tömlőbe
- új bor régi tömlőbenTranslations
- új bort régi tömlőbeTranslations
Polish młode wino w starych bukłakach
- młode wino w starych bukłakachTranslations
Spanish vino nuevo en odres viejos
- vino nuevo en odres viejosTranslations
Vietnamese bình cũ rượu mới
- bình cũ rượu mớiTranslations
Cite this entry
new wine in an old bottle. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/new%20wine%20in%20an%20old%20bottle
“new wine in an old bottle.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/new%20wine%20in%20an%20old%20bottle. Accessed November 5, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “new wine in an old bottle,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/new%20wine%20in%20an%20old%20bottle.
Source: new wine in an old bottle on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.