new wine in an old bottle

English

Alternative forms

• new wine in an old wineskin

Etymology

From Matthew 9:17 of the King James Bible.

Noun

new wine in an old bottle (plural new wine in old bottles)

1. (idiomatic) A significant change introduced to an entrenched system or method.
   • 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^[1], →ISSN:

     But Western analysts have remained skeptical, calling the missiles, modified versions of existing conventional munitions, “new wine in old bottles.”

2. (idiomatic) A new thing passed off as old.

Usage notes

See old wine in a new bottle.

Translations

Translations

• German: neuer Wein in alten Schläuchen, junger Wein in alten Schläuchen
• Hungarian: (inside) új bor régi tömlőben, (into) új bort régi tömlőbe
• Spanish: vino nuevo en odres viejos

See also

• old wine in a new bottle