bottled up
Emotionally held back
Bottled up describes emotions, thoughts, or feelings that are suppressed or kept inside rather than expressed.
The image is of something contained under pressure, like carbonation in a bottle.
When someone has bottled up their anger or grief, they haven't released it, often to their detriment.
He'd bottled up his resentment for years before finally confronting his father.
The phrase suggests that what's contained may eventually need release or could burst out unexpectedly.
Held back from expression
- stifledForcibly held in
- pent-upConfined and building pressure
- smotheredDeprived of air
- swallowedPassed through throat
buried · internalized · withheld · unvoiced · unexpressed · unvented · silenced · held back
Emotional responses experienced internally
- emotionsPsychological feeling states
- frustrationDispleasure from blocked efforts
- angerIntense hostile emotion
- resentmentPersistent bitter displeasure
grief · rage · hurt · anxiety · fear · sadness · pain · turmoil
Closed to prevent entry
- corkedPlugged with bark stopper
- cappedGiven a maximum limit
- jarredShaken or disturbed
- preservedKept from deterioration
stored · contained · stoppered · vacuum-sealed · airtight · enclosed · packaged
Cooking below boiling point
- seethingIntensely, quietly enraged
- buildingEnclosed roofed structure
- mountingSteadily increasing in degree
- churningAgitated circular motion
boiling · volcano · explosive · pressurized · overflowing · bubbling · festering · brewing
Unable to escape
- cagedConfined by bars
- cooped upConfined in small space
- pennedWrote or confined
- restrictedLimited in scope
constrained · closed off · shut in · hemmed in · boxed in · walled off · isolated · withdrawn
repressed
Held back from expression
swallowed · buried · internalized · withheld · unvoiced · unexpressed · unvented · silenced · held back · choked down
feelings
Emotional responses experienced internally
- emotionsPsychological feeling states
- frustrationDispleasure from blocked efforts
- angerIntense hostile emotion
resentment · grief · rage · hurt · anxiety · fear · sadness · pain · turmoil · tension
sealed
Closed to prevent entry
preserved · stored · contained · stoppered · vacuum-sealed · airtight · enclosed · packaged
simmering
Cooking below boiling point
- seethingIntensely, quietly enraged
- buildingEnclosed roofed structure
- mountingSteadily increasing in degree
churning · boiling · volcano · explosive · pressurized · overflowing · bubbling · festering · brewing · smoldering
trapped
Unable to escape
restricted · constrained · closed off · shut in · hemmed in · boxed in · walled off · isolated · withdrawn · sealed off
bottled upvented
Released built-up emotion
released · expressed · let out · unleashed · poured out
bottled upforthcoming
Soon to appear
open · candid · transparent · outspoken · frank
bottled upreleased
Set free from confinement
uncorked · unsealed · opened · poured out · flowing freely
bottle, bottled, bottles, bottling, water bottle, unbottled, bottler, bottleful, bottlers