the genie is out of the bottle

phrase

Information has been released that will have ongoing consequences.

“I don't think there's any hope of repealing this city's silly parking bylaw. The genie is out of the bottle, sadly.”

Similar
the cat is out of the bagwhat's done is done
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Meanings

phrase

alternative the genie's out of the bottle

  1. idiomaticInformation has been released that will have ongoing consequences.

    It's been widely rumored the network was planning to cancel the show, but now the genie is out of the bottle and fans are furious.

    1 more example

    This early flawed statement was rapidly updated with entirely accurate information, but it was too late - the genie was out of the bottle.

    2021 November 17, Nigel Harris, “Comment: Salisbury: a media own goal”, in RAIL, number 944, page 3

    Synonyms: the cat is out of the bag

  2. idiomaticSomething has been brought into reality that cannot be eliminated or undone.

    I don't think there's any hope of repealing this city's silly parking bylaw. The genie is out of the bottle, sadly.

    1 more example

    “The foundations of the concerns about digital platforms were developing during the Obama years […]” said Chris Lewis, the president of the consumer advocacy group Public Knowledge. “The genie is out of the bottle and the issues the public needs resolved are piling up without resolution.”

    2020 November 10, Cecilia Kang, David McCabe, Jack Nicas, “Biden Is Expected to Keep Scrutiny of Tech Front and Center”, in The New York Times, →ISSN, archived from the original on 07 Jan 2021

    Synonyms: what's done is done

Synonyms & antonyms

phraseInformation has been released that will have ongoing consequences.

Similar
the cat is out of the bag

phraseSomething has been brought into reality that cannot be eliminated or undone.

Similar
what's done is done
Also see
the cat's out of the bag

Translations

Dutch de geest is uit de fles
  • de geest is uit de flesinformation has been released that will have ongoing consequences
Polish co się stało, to się nie odstanie, co było, to było
  • co się stało, to się nie odstanieinformation has been released that will have ongoing consequences
  • co było, to byłoinformation has been released that will have ongoing consequences
Cite this entry
APA

the genie is out of the bottle. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/the%20genie%20is%20out%20of%20the%20bottle

MLA

“the genie is out of the bottle.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/the%20genie%20is%20out%20of%20the%20bottle. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “the genie is out of the bottle,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/the%20genie%20is%20out%20of%20the%20bottle.

Source: the genie is out of the bottle on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.