Perfect storm Meaning in English

expression

US

ˈpɝˌfɪkt/, /pɝˈfɛkt/ /ˈstɔɹm

PUR-fikt STORM

UK

ˈpɜː.fɛkt/ /stˈɔːm

PUR-fekt STAWM

Definition

A rare situation where several bad things happen at the same time, making the overall problem much worse.

Usage & Nuances

Usually used in news, business, or analysis to describe crises caused by multiple factors. Not about actual weather. Often appears as 'a perfect storm of [problems]'.

• Spanish: tormenta perfecta - situación perfecta (para un problema)
• Portuguese (BR): tempestade perfeita - combinação perfeita (de problemas)
• Portuguese (PT): tempestade perfeita - combinação perfeita (de problemas)
• Chinese (Simplified): 完美风暴 - 糟糕情况的完美组合
• Chinese (Traditional): 完美風暴 - 糟糕情況的完美組合
• Hindi: परफ़ेक्ट स्टॉर्म - समस्याओं का आदर्श मेल
• Arabic: عاصفة مثالية - اجتماع مشاكل مثالي
• Bengali: নিখুঁত ঝড় (উপমা) - চরম বিপর্যয়কর পরিস্থিতি
• Russian: идеальный шторм - крайне неблагоприятная ситуация
• Japanese: 最悪の状況 - 完璧な嵐（比喩）
• Vietnamese: cơn bão hoàn hảo (nghĩa bóng) - tình huống tồi tệ chồng chất
• Korean: 완벽한 폭풍 (비유) - 복합 위기
• Turkish: kusursuz fırtına (mecazi)
• Urdu: مکمل طوفان (استعارہ) - انتہائی خراب صورتحال
• Indonesian: cơn bão hoàn hảo (nghĩa bóng) - tình huống tồi tệ chồng chất

Example Sentences

The company faced a perfect storm of rising costs and low sales.

basic

The city had a perfect storm when a flood and a power outage happened together.

basic

COVID-19 created a perfect storm for global supply chains.

basic

High debt, slow sales, and bad weather combined in a perfect storm for small farmers.

natural

When rumors, lack of information, and panic hit together, it was a perfect storm for confusion.

natural

Losing my phone, missing the train, and raining hard—talk about a perfect storm!

natural