Differences between bottle up and cover up
Bottle up means to suppress or hold back emotions or feelings, while cover up means to hide or conceal something, usually a mistake or wrongdoing.
Meanings and Definitions: bottle up vs cover up
Learn how to use these expressions through these examples
Bottle up
- 1Not express your feelings.
She BOTTLED UP her feelings even though she was furious with them and kept quiet.
Cover up
- 1Conceal, try to stop people finding out.
They tried to COVER UP the incident but it got into the newspapers.
Usage Examples: bottle up, cover up in Sentences
Learn how to use these expressions through these examples
bottle up
Example
He always bottles up his emotions and never talks about his problems.
Example
She bottles up her feelings when she is upset.
cover up
Example
The company tried to cover up the accident to avoid bad publicity.
Example
He always covers up his mistakes instead of admitting them.
Similar Expressions(Synonyms) of Bottle up
To restrain or hold back emotions or impulses.
Example
She had been repressing her feelings for years, but finally decided to seek therapy.
swallow one's feelings
To suppress or hide one's emotions or feelings.
Example
He had to swallow his feelings when he found out his ex-girlfriend was getting married.
Similar Expressions(Synonyms) of Cover up
To conceal or gloss over a mistake or wrongdoing.
Example
The government tried to whitewash the report by deleting sensitive information.
To disguise or hide something by making it blend in with its surroundings.
Example
The soldiers used leaves and branches to camouflage their position from the enemy.
Explore more Phrasal Verbs
Here are some phrasal verbs with the same verbs or particles
Phrasal Verbs with “bottle”
Phrasal Verbs with “cover”
Phrasal Verbs with “up”
Differences in bottle up vs cover up: Usage, Formality, and Tone
Frequency in Daily Use: bottle up or cover up?
Both phrases are commonly used in everyday conversation, but cover up is more frequently used than bottle up. This is because cover up can be used in a wider range of contexts, such as covering up a lie or a crime, while bottle up is mainly used when talking about emotions.
Informal vs Formal: Contextual Use of bottle up and cover up
Both bottle up and cover up are informal phrases that are suitable for casual conversations. However, cover up can also be used in more formal settings like business or politics, where it refers to concealing information or wrongdoing.
Tone and Implication: The Nuances of bottle up and cover up
The tone of bottle up is often negative, implying that suppressing emotions can lead to negative consequences such as stress or anxiety. On the other hand, the tone of cover up can be negative or neutral, depending on the context. It can imply deceit or dishonesty, or simply mean hiding something for practical reasons.
