put the genie back in the bottle

The phrase "put the genie back in the bottle" is an idiomatic expression that means to try to reverse or undo a situation that has already occurred, that cannot be undone, or that has unleashed a negative consequence or force. It implies trying to regain control or contain something that has already been released or set in motion, which is usually difficult or impossible to achieve. The phrase originates from the story of Aladdin, in which a genie is released from a magical bottle and granting wishes but can only be put back into the bottle by the person who released it.