lightning in a bottle

Noun

lightning in a bottle (uncountable)

1. (idiomatic) That which one seeks in attempting a difficult or challenging feat.
   • The Yanks were the dominant team throughout, outhitting, outfielding, outpitching and outmaneuvering the Dodgers. Brooklyn was not outgamed but the Dodgers, to use Lippy Leo Durocher’s favorite expression, went out to try to catch lightning in a bottle.1941, Nevada State Journal, 8 October 1941
   • Their fate remained in doubt until the very last game of the season. This truly was a team that captured lightning in a bottle.1992, Herbert F. Crehan, Lightning in a Bottle: The Sox of ’67
2. (idiomatic) A very difficult, unlikely or lucky achievement or period of success.
   • We tracked down four people who introduced some of the most popular fad items of the past few decades to find out how they handled their sudden prosperity—and rapid exit from the limelight. Some were relaxing and enjoying their spoils. Others were trying to capture lightning in a bottle one more...2011, Jeff May, The Wall Street Journal, “After the One-Hit Wonder: They hit it big. Really big. But then what?”, June 13, 2011
   • Just like rock bands, authors and Hollywood stars, technology companies can often attribute their rise to the top to a single smash hit. For those lucky few who are talented and lucky enough to catch lightning in a bottle, that single No. 1 album, best-selling book or syndicated television program...2013, Matt Hartley, “No plan B: How BlackBerry has been a hostage to its own early success”, Financial Post, 2013–08–17
3. (idiomatic) Ephemeral state or atmosphere, as at a startup company or artistic group.

   Synonyms:

   one-hit wonder

4. Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see lightning, bottle.