perfect storm

American  

noun

1. Meteorology. a very intense and powerful storm arising from the convergence of an unusual set of weather patterns.

   A dying Hurricane Grace delivered the immeasurable tropical energy needed to create the perfect storm.

2. a detrimental or calamitous situation or event arising from the powerful combined effect of a unique set of circumstances.

   a perfect storm battering corporate pension plans.

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perfect storm British  

noun

1. a combination of events which are not individually dangerous, but occurring together produce a disastrous outcome

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Etymology

Origin of perfect storm

First recorded in 1935–40 in meteorological sense; in 1997 for current sense, from The Perfect Storm, a nonfiction book by Sebastian Junger, U.S. journalist and author (born 1962)

Example Sentences

It took a combination of every single element that transformed Indiana from an afterthought into college football’s 16-0 steamroller this season: a perfect storm of bold coaching, undervalued talent, and gamechanging guts.

From The Wall Street Journal

McNulty believes heavy rainfall over the weekend and brackish water conditions could have created a "perfect storm environment" for Sunday's attack.

From BBC

“It’s like a perfect storm,” said Cornell University economist John Cawley, who heads the American Economic Association’s job market committee.

From The Wall Street Journal

In other words, investors are seeing “a perfect storm” for higher prices, Haberkorn said.

From MarketWatch

It was, the filing said, a “perfect storm.”

From The Wall Street Journal