Saigon moment—(usually in military contexts) used when people realize that they will lose or fail (originally of the U.S. negative experience in the Vietnam war):
- “We are waiting for the final chapter, for your Saigon moment,” a rebel commander bragged in a taunt to U.S. President Bush.
sputnik moment—used when people realize that they are seriously challenged and have to redouble their efforts to catch up (originally of the time when the Soviet Union launched the first satellite and beat the USA into space):
- Hutchison warned that “we are on the verge of another Sputnik moment” because of China’s perceived lunar ambitions.