you can't put new wine in(to) an old bottle
you can't put new wine in(to) an old bottle
proverb You cannot (or should not) try to force something new and different to be applied or added to an established, longstanding, outdated , or obsolete organization, system, or method. The state's newly elected governor is trying to make bold, progressive changes to the state's institutions, but she's quickly finding out that you can't put new wine in an old bottle. Well, it's no wonder the program isn't working correctly—you're trying to run it on an operating system from 2001! You can't put new wine in an old bottle. The company is wasting the talent of the young developers by forcing them to adhere to their old policies. You can't put new wine in an old bottle, and such youthful talent eventually stagnates in such conditions.
See also: bottle, new, old, put, wine
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
- teach a man to fish
- change horses in midstream, don't
- it takes a village
- village
- best-laid plans go astray, the
- the best-laid plans
- the best-laid plans go astray
- the best-laid plans of mice and men
- a little knowledge is a dangerous thing
- a little learning is a dangerous thing