lightning

lightning in a bottle

An incredibly difficult, unlikely, and/or elusive achievement or period of success. (Usually used with "catch" or "capture.") Primarily heard in US. The playwright caught lightning in a bottle with his first play, taking the world by storm and thrusting him into the spotlight of fame. The rookie team, such underdogs in this championship, are trying to capture lightning in a bottle by upsetting the number one seed.

capture lightning in a bottle

To achieve or succeed at doing something that is incredibly difficult, unlikely, and/or elusive. Primarily heard in US. The playwright captured lightning in a bottle with his first play, taking the world by storm and thrusting him into the spotlight of fame. This rookie team, such underdogs in this championship, are trying to capture lightning in a bottle with an upset win over the number one seed.

lightning fast

(hyphenated if used before a noun) Incredibly fast; too quick to keep up with. Did you see that martial arts expert? His kicks were lightning fast! My brother has a lightning-fast wit.

lightning quick

(hyphenated if used before a noun) Incredibly fast; too quick to keep up with. Did you see that martial arts expert? His kicks were lightning quick! My brother has a lightning-quick wit.

(as) quick as lightning

Incredibly quickly or speedily. Did you see that martial arts expert? He threw those kicks as quick as lightning! Quick as lightning, Mary finished her exam and raced out of the classroom.

(as) fast as lightning

Incredibly quickly or speedily. Did you see that martial arts expert? His threw those kicks as fast as lightning! Fast as lightning, Mary finished her exam and raced out of the classroom.

faster than greased lightning

Extremely fast. Wow, that car just blew past me—it's faster than greased lightning! When I take tests, I'm faster than greased lightning, so I'm sure I'll be the first one done.

go like lightning

To move very quickly. Come on, kids, go like lightning out to the car, or else we're going to be late!

lightning rod

Something or someone that becomes the focus of others' criticism or blame. Primarily heard in US. The CEO became a lightning rod for criticism when his company laid off a third of its employees.

Lightning never strikes (the same place) twice.

Prov. The same highly unlikely thing never happens to the same person twice. Jill: I'm scared to drive ever since that truck hit my car. Alan: Don't worry. Lightning never strikes the same place twice. It's strange, but I feel safer since my apartment was robbed; I figure lightning never strikes the same place twice.

See also: lightning, never, strike, twice

like greased lightning

Rur. very fast. Once I get her tuned up, this old car will go like greased lightning. He's a fat kid, but he can run like greased lightning.

like hell and high lightning

Rur. very fast. The snowmobiles came zooming down the trail like hell and high lightning. The powerboat sped up the river like hell and high lightning.

See also: and, hell, high, lightning, like

*quick as a wink

and *quick as a flash; *quick as (greased) lightning; *swift as lightning

very quickly. (*Also: as ~.) As quick as a wink, the thief took the lady's purse. I'll finish this work quick as a flash. Quick as greased lightning, the thief stole my wallet.

like greased lightning

(old-fashioned)

if someone does something like greased lightning, they do it very quickly I mentioned work and he was out of the room like greased lightning.

a lightning rod

(American)

someone or something that takes all the blame for a situation, although other people or things are responsible too (often + for ) In a harsh economic climate, raises for teachers have become a lightning rod for criticism.

Lightning does not strike twice.

something that you say which means that a bad thing will not happen to the same person twice I know the crash has scared you, but lightning doesn't strike twice.

See also: does, lightning, not, strike, twice

as quick as a flash/wink

also as quick as lightning

if you do something as quick as a flash, you do it very quickly Quick as a flash, he snatched the book and ran out of the room.

lightning never strikes twice in the same place

The same misfortune will never recur, as in Go ahead and try your luck investing in options again; lightning never strikes twice. This saying is based on a long-standing myth, which has been proved to be untrue. Nevertheless, it is so well known it is often shortened, as in the example. [Mid-1800s]

See also: lightning, never, place, same, strike, twice

like greased lightning

Also, like a blue streak; like the wind; like blazes. Very fast indeed, as in He climbed that ladder like greased lightning, or She kept on talking like a blue streak, or The children ran like the wind when they heard there'd be free ice cream. The likening of speed to lightning dates from the 1500s, and grease was added in the early 1800s to further accentuate the idea of haste. The first variant, blue streak, also dates from the early 1800s and alludes to something resembling lightning. The wind in the second variant has been a metaphor for swiftness since ancient Roman times. The blazes in the last variant, first recorded in 1925, alludes to fire or lightning.

quick as a wink

Also, quick as a bunny or a flash . Very speedily, as in He was out of here quick as a wink, or She answered, quick as a bunny. These similes have largely replaced the earlier quick as lightning, although quick as a flash no doubt alludes to it (also see like greased lightning), and quick as thought, now obsolete. The bunny variant dates from the mid-1800s, the others from the late 1800s.

greased lightning

1. n. strong liquor. This greased lightning of yours nearly blew my head off.

2. n. something fast or powerful. That kid can run like greased lightning.

lightning rod

n. someone, something, or an issue that is certain to draw criticism. Why write such a boastful introduction to your book. I will just be a lightning rod for criticism.

faster than a cat lapping chain lightning

Another old Southern expression, this one meaning very fast indeed.

See also: cat, chain, faster, lap, lightning

catch lightning in a bottle

Try to do something that's impossible. The phrase has been attributed to the baseball manager Leo Durocher, who may have originated or simply liked to use it. In any event, it's an apt metaphor for something that no one can do (unless “lightning” refers to lightning bugs, another name for fireflies).

Common Names:

Name	Pronounced	Usage
Wallis	WAWL-is	English (Rare)
Tiara	tee-AHR-ə	English (Modern)
Rajni	-	Indian, Hindi
Vinny	VIN-ee	English
Kimberly	['kimbəli]
Deepti	-	Indian, Hindi, Marathi, Kannada