Lightning is one of the most powerful forces in nature . Scientists describe lightning as a huge burst of electricity between clouds , the air , or the ground . These bolts of electricity can heat the air around them to temperatures five times higher than the surface of the sun . And that is really hot ! When you watch lighting , you know it's fast . That is why English speakers use the expression lightning speed to describe anything that is super-fast . A runner can have lightning speed . An Italian restaurant can drop off a nice , warm pizza at your front door at lightning speed . And unconfirmed stories often spread online at lightning speed . So , lightning is fast ; it also can be dangerous . When a thunder and lightning storm starts , it is best to find shelter . Do not stand in an open field . Now , to protect buildings from lightning damage during a storm , you can attach a lightning rod to it . A lightning rod is a long piece of metal . This metal draws lightning away from the building . People can also act as lightning rods … but in a different way . They attract attention , criticism and even anger of other people . A lightning rod is someone who becomes the target of criticism to draw attention away from more serious issues or other people . Issues and even objects can become lightning rods , too . Anything that comes to represent something that people criticize can be called a lightning rod . When speaking about lightning , we have another common expression : Lightning never strikes the same place twice . We use this expression when a very unusual event is not likely to happen again to the same person or in the same place . It can be used when something good happens , such as winning a game of chance like the lottery . That does not happen very often . Here is another example . Let's say your favorite sports team is having a bad year . But they were still able to defeat a much stronger team . However , the next time they face that stronger team , your team might not be so lucky . You know what they say -- lightning never strikes twice . We also use this expression to say a bad thing won't happen again . We use this reassure someone , trying to make them feel better . For example , let's say you are watching a baseball game and get hit by a baseball in your seat . Your friend might say , “Well , you're safe now . You know , lightning never strikes twice !” That probably will not make your head feel any better . And you can tell your friend that scientists say that lightning can and will strike the same place twice . Whether for something good or bad , the underlying truth remains the same : The chances of some unlikely thing happening twice is very small .