Appleton tornado
Definition
A catastrophic meteorological event that occurred in Appleton, Wisconsin, most notably the destructive EF3 tornado on September 1, 1993, which caused significant damage to the downtown business district.
Colloquially used in Midwestern parlance to describe an unexpectedly chaotic, swirling, or destructive situation that tears through a usually quiet or predictable environment.
Examples
The HR manager walked into the breakroom like an Appleton tornado, scattering the donut box and our collective hopes of an early Friday exit.
My toddler’s path through the living room was reminiscent of an Appleton tornado, leaving nothing but scattered Lego bricks and broken dreams in its wake.
Trying to organize a group trip with six opinionated friends is less of a planning session and more of a social Appleton tornado.