cork up
Definition
Verb: - To seal a bottle by inserting a cork into its opening. This action prevents the contents from spilling and can help preserve them, especially for liquids like wine.
Usage
This verb describes the specific action of closing a bottle using a cork stopper. It is a straightforward, literal term. - Always use it with an object (the bottle being closed). - It is often used in the simple past tense ("corked up") to describe a completed action.
Examples
- Verb:
- After pouring a glass, remember to cork up the wine bottle.
- She carefully corked up the vintage port to save it for a special occasion.
- The chemist corked up the test tube containing the volatile solution.
Advanced Usage
- Figurative Use (Rare): While primarily literal, it can be used metaphorically to mean suppressing or containing something, similar to "bottle up." However, this is not the primary meaning and is less common.
- He tried to cork up his emotions during the speech.
Variants and Related Words
- Cork (verb): The simpler form meaning to stop or seal with a cork.
- Cork the bottle before putting it in the fridge.
- Uncork (verb): The direct opposite, meaning to remove a cork from a bottle.
- He uncorked a bottle of champagne to celebrate.
Synonyms
- Stopper: To close or seal with a stopper.
- Seal: To close something securely.
Related Phrasal Verbs
- Bottle up: To restrain or conceal one's feelings. (This is the more common idiomatic equivalent to the rare figurative use of "cork up").
- It's not healthy to bottle up your anger.
Related Idioms
- Put a cork in it: An informal, often rude, idiom meaning "be quiet" or "stop talking." It is related to the idea of stopping something, like sealing a bottle.
- I've heard enough complaining; put a cork in it!
Verb
-
close a bottle with a cork