lightning in a bottle

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.[1]

Later used in baseball context in sense “difficult feat”, from circa 1941, attributed to Leo Durocher.[2] Wider use grew in 1980s and 1990s, particularly in sense “great, fleeting success”, and popular since 2000s.[2]

lightning in a bottle (uncountable)

1. (idiomatic) A difficult or challenging feat, particularly to attempt such a feat.
   • 1941, Nevada State Journal, 8 October 1941:[2]

     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.

   • 1992, Herbert F. Crehan, Lightning in a Bottle: The Sox of ’67:

     Their fate remained in doubt until the very last game of the season. This truly was a team that captured lightning in a bottle.

2. (idiomatic) Great, unlikely, fleeting success, particularly entrepreneurial or media.
   • 2011, Jeff May, The Wall Street Journal, “After the One-Hit Wonder: They hit it big. Really big. But then what?”, June 13, 2011:

     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.

   • 2013, Matt Hartley, “No plan B: How BlackBerry has been a hostage to its own early success”, Financial Post, 2013–08–17:

     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 can be enough to carry their career, and them, for a lifetime.

3. (idiomatic) Ephemeral state or atmosphere, as at a startup company or artistic group.
4. Used other than with a figurative or idiomatic meaning: see lightning,‎ bottle.

Most often used in the verb phrase “try to catch lightning in a bottle” or variants, like “capture”, though also used alone as a noun phrase.

• (great, fleeting success): one-hit wonder

• flash in the pan
• nice guys finish last

• The Shocking Stories Behind Lightning in a Bottle and Other Idioms, Arnold Ringstad, 2012, Childs World Incorporated, →ISBN