put the genie back in the bottle
Undo widespread knowledge
To put the genie back in the bottle is to attempt to reverse something that cannot be undone—to restore conditions after a fundamental change has occurred.
The phrase usually appears in the negative, acknowledging impossibility: You can't put the genie back in the bottle.
Once nuclear weapons exist, once information leaks, once technology spreads, the world has changed permanently.
The image comes from folk tales where releasing a genie grants power but cannot be reversed.
- reversalComplete change of direction
- spilled milkIrreversible minor accident
- point of no returnThreshold beyond which reversal impossible
- no turning backCommitment beyond reversal
- too latePast the cutoff
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put the genie back in the bottleopen Pandora's box
Cause unforeseen widespread problems
cross the Rubicon · let the cat out of the bag · let the chips fall where they may · unleash · release the kraken
put the genie back in the bottlelet it rip
throw caution to the wind · let nature take its course · let the chips fall where they may · go with the flow · unchain
put the genie back in the bottlepress on
Continue despite hardship
forge ahead · let bygones be bygones · turn the page · move on · onward and upward
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