lightning in a bottle

Noun

Meaning

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

(idiomatic) Great, unlikely, fleeting success, particularly entrepreneurial or in the media.

(idiomatic) Ephemeral state or atmosphere, as at a startup company or artistic group.

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

Synonyms

Examples

The directors that I end up having a really good time with are the ones that understand the fluidity of the medium and are interested in catching lightning in a bottle. Oliver Platt

My favorite parts of work as an actor and a director are those unplanned mistakes that do happen, because it's like catching lightning in a bottle. It's the best part of what we do. David Duchovny

'The Karate Kid' was just lightning in a bottle. The second movie is a very worthy sequel, because you got to explore the Okinawan culture and learned about Miyagi's life. The third, as is always the case, was made because the second one made a lot of money. Martin Kove

I paint on the ground. I paint with sticks, with big paint cans, and whatever else falls in it. Basically, what I'm doing is capturing unbridled emotion and putting it on canvas. It's like capturing lightning in a bottle. Richard Grieco

Close letter words and terms