bottle
US /ˈbɑː.t̬əl/
UK /ˈbɑː.t̬əl/

1.
2.
退缩, 打退堂鼓
to lose one's nerve or courage; to back out of something.
:
•
He was going to ask her out, but he bottled it at the last minute.
他本来要约她出去,但最后一刻退缩了。
•
Don't bottle out now, we're almost there!
现在别退缩,我们快到了!