# lightning in a bottle

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/lightning-in-a-bottle
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

That which one seeks in attempting a difficult or challenging feat.

## Examples

- Capturing that kind of success is like catching lightning in a bottle.
- Winning the championship twice in a row is like catching lightning in a bottle.
- The director knew that recreating the magic of his first film would be like catching lightning in a bottle.
- The band realized that recording another hit song with the same energy as their first album was like trying to catch lightning in a bottle.
- The startup founder understood that replicating the viral growth of their initial product was akin to catching lightning in a bottle, yet he remained determined to try.

## Origin

Originally (19th century) a literal reference to Benjamin Franklin’s kite experiment, capturing electricity from lightning and storing it in a Leyden jar, along with variants such as bottled lightning. Later used in baseball context in sense “difficult feat”, from circa 1941, attributed to Leo Durocher. Wider use grew in 1980s and 1990s, particularly in sense “great, fleeting success”, and popular since 2000s.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.