bottle out
US /ˈbɑː.t̬əl aʊt/
UK /ˈbɑː.t̬əl aʊt/
1.
退缩, 打退堂鼓
to lose one's nerve and decide not to do something
:
•
He was going to ask her out, but he bottled out 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, you've come too far!
现在别退缩，你已经走了这么远了！