Top Gun Maverick
Definition
A 2022 American action drama film directed by Joseph Kosinski, serving as a sequel to the 1986 classic Top Gun, starring Tom Cruise as Captain Pete 'Maverick' Mitchell, an elite naval aviator pushing the limits in high-stakes flight training.
Informally, an exceptional fighter pilot or high-performer who embodies reckless skill and defiance of authority, drawing from the titular character's archetype in the film.
Examples
After bingeing Top Gun Maverick, he started reciting call signs during rush-hour traffic.
She's the Top Gun Maverick of the startup world, inverting every pitch deck like a barrel roll.
My coffee order is so precise, the barista calls me Top Gun Maverick for nailing the foam-to-espresso ratio.
He dodged the family reunion drama like Maverick in Top Gun Maverick, emerging unscathed with a grin.