something has become known.

Efforts to ban cloning cannot succeed — the genie is out of the bottle.

Usage notes: often used in the form put the genie back in the bottle:

Once people got used to e-mail, it was impossible to put this genie back in the bottle.

Etymology: based on the story of a genie (= magic being) who was released from a bottle and then helps the person who let it out

• If can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen.
• I feel it in my bones.
• if it ain't broke, don't fix it
• If it ain't broke, don't fix it.
• if it comes to the crunch
• if it weren't for
• if it weren't for someone
• if it weren't for something
• if knows what's good for
• if knows what's good for them
• If looks could kill...
• if memory serves
• If Mohammed will not go to the mountain, the mountain must come to Mohammed.
• if need be
• if push comes to shove
• if someone knows what's good for
• if someone knows what's good for them
• If someone thinks something, they've got another thing coming!
• If someone thinks something, they've got another think coming!
• If someone thinks, they've got another thing coming!
• If someone thinks, they've got another think coming!
• If the cap fits .
• If the cap fits wear it.
• if the going gets rough
• if the going gets tough