put the cork back in the bottle

Meanings:

• 1.

  Generalneutral
  • To reseal a bottle by replacing its cork; to restore a container to a closed condition.

• 2.

  Generalinformalcolloquial
  • To silence someone or stop them from speaking further.
  • To attempt to reverse or suppress a situation or disclosure, often implying that the original state cannot be completely or easily restored.