catch/capture lightning in a bottle
idiom
chiefly US
: to succeed in a way that is very lucky or unlikely
He caught lightning in a bottle with the success of his very first book.
Examples of catch/capture lightning in a bottle in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
While the Royals would love to catch lightning in a bottle with Keuchel, the Storm Chasers need help with their rotation.
—
Pete Grathoff
july 9, Kansas City Star, 9 July 2025
The Cubs are soon expected to add lefty reliever Drew Pomeranz to their active roster, hoping to catch lightning in a bottle after that minor trade with the Seattle Mariners.
—Patrick Mooney, New York Times, 23 Apr. 2025
Kraft, Davis and Strunk, like many owners before them, have fallen into the trap of trying to catch lightning in a bottle.
—Mike Jones, The Athletic, 9 Jan. 2025
But for many aspiring writers, crafting authentic and engaging dialogue can feel like trying to capture lightning in a bottle.
—Jd Barker, Rolling Stone, 10 Oct. 2024
Or should Reid dress Toney for the game and use him strategically to try to catch lightning in a bottle again, but risk another major gaffe or drop or more distractions steering the Chiefs’ train off the tracks?
—Pat Leonard, New York Daily News, 3 Feb. 2024
Mike Schaller Temple City :: In an effort to catch lightning in a bottle, Steve Ballmer has approved a trade for James Harden that is reminiscent of Arte Moreno’s signing of Albert Pujols.
—Los Angeles Times, 4 Nov. 2023
Four receivers isn’t enough for an NFL team on Sundays, and the decision comes after an offseason where Indianapolis stockpiled low-cost receivers with some level of experience, hoping to catch lightning in a bottle with one.
—The Indianapolis Star, 29 Aug. 2023
For Theroux, a feature-length documentary film is the opposite of that, a way to capture lightning in a bottle, and to freeze the star in time.
—Simran Hans, Variety, 13 Jan. 2023
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Pete Grathoff
july 9, Kansas City Star, 9 July 2025
The Cubs are soon expected to add lefty reliever Drew Pomeranz to their active roster, hoping to catch lightning in a bottle after that minor trade with the Seattle Mariners.
—Patrick Mooney, New York Times, 23 Apr. 2025
Kraft, Davis and Strunk, like many owners before them, have fallen into the trap of trying to catch lightning in a bottle.
—Mike Jones, The Athletic, 9 Jan. 2025
But for many aspiring writers, crafting authentic and engaging dialogue can feel like trying to capture lightning in a bottle.
—Jd Barker, Rolling Stone, 10 Oct. 2024
Or should Reid dress Toney for the game and use him strategically to try to catch lightning in a bottle again, but risk another major gaffe or drop or more distractions steering the Chiefs’ train off the tracks?
—Pat Leonard, New York Daily News, 3 Feb. 2024
Mike Schaller Temple City :: In an effort to catch lightning in a bottle, Steve Ballmer has approved a trade for James Harden that is reminiscent of Arte Moreno’s signing of Albert Pujols.
—Los Angeles Times, 4 Nov. 2023
Four receivers isn’t enough for an NFL team on Sundays, and the decision comes after an offseason where Indianapolis stockpiled low-cost receivers with some level of experience, hoping to catch lightning in a bottle with one.
—The Indianapolis Star, 29 Aug. 2023
For Theroux, a feature-length documentary film is the opposite of that, a way to capture lightning in a bottle, and to freeze the star in time.
—Simran Hans, Variety, 13 Jan. 2023
Cite this Entry
“Catch/capture lightning in a bottle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/catch%2Fcapture%20lightning%20in%20a%20bottle. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.
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