category five

English

Etymology

Primarily from the Saffir–Simpson scale, in which category five represents the most powerful type of hurricane.

Noun

category five (uncountable)

1. (attributive, figurative) Very serious, extreme.
   • 2011 November 3, Timothy Egan, “Political Class Clowns”, in The New York Times‎:

     China, said Cain with his clueless urgency, is “trying to develop nuclear capability.” Anyone who is gobsmacked by this category five level of ignorance concerning a country that has had nuclear weapons for more than 45 years has not been paying attention.

   • 2020 December 4, Marina Hyde, “Only an idiot would claim the vaccine triumph was a vindication of Brexit”, in The Guardian‎:

     You would have to be a category-five idiot to cross the Brexit and Covid streams, so – inevitably – several government ministers did just that.

   • 2022 July 5, Katie Harris, “Meghan poised to swipe 'true power on her own terms' with Harry facing 'immense' sacrifice”, in Daily Express‎:

     Ms Elser also said Meghan entering politics would trigger a "category five meltdown" at Buckingham Palace.

   • 2025 March 4, Marina Hyde, “It’s With Love, Meghan – not just a TV show but a landmark piece of art. And not in a good way”, in The Guardian‎:

     Language is either category-five twee or has been reduced to non-sentient babyspeak. “Good vibes, good hives”. “Clean clean clean clean.” “Single skillet spaghetti. S-s-s. S-s-s …” I won’t labour the 1% of the 1% mood, though someone driving through one of America’s most rarefied billionaires’ communities to buy a few hundred dollars’ worth of flowers while telling you, “It’s the little things that count” is obviously ridiculous.