chain lightning
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Meaning · English
A high-proof whiskey or other spirit that has not been allowed to mature; a poor-quality or adulterated spirit.
Register: slang
Where it’s used:
Used
American English
Examples
Give me a meetin where nobody cares a snap of a finger for nobody in particular, and has no interest but in a good feed, a good song, a good smoke, and chain-lightning to top it all off with.
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “chain lightning” mean?
A high-proof whiskey or other spirit that has not been allowed to mature; a poor-quality or adulterated spirit.
Is “chain lightning” formal or informal?
chain lightning is generally slang.