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Lightning in a bottle

noun

Definitions

Noun

1
That which one seeks in attempting a difficult or challenging feat. idiomatic, uncountable
"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."
2
A very difficult, unlikely or lucky achievement or period of success. idiomatic, uncountable
"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 time."
3
Ephemeral state or atmosphere, as at a startup company or artistic group. idiomatic, uncountable
4
Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see lightning, bottle. uncountable

Etymology

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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