the genie is out of the bottle

English

Alternative forms

• the genie's out of the bottle

Pronunciation

• Audio (General Australian):

  (file)

Phrase

the genie is out of the bottle

1. (idiomatic) Information has been released that will have ongoing consequences.

   Synonym: the cat is out of the bag

   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.

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

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

2. (idiomatic) Something 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.

   • 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^[1], →ISSN:

     “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.”

Translations

information has been released that will have ongoing consequences

• Dutch: de geest is uit de fles

something has been brought into reality that cannot be eliminated or undone — see what's done is done

See also

• can of worms
• kettle of fish
• Pandora's box
• put the genie back in the bottle
• what's done is done