Force Majeure
The contract clause excusing performance during catastrophe — war, flood, 'acts of God.' Ignored for decades, then read very carefully by everyone simultaneously in March 2020.
Heard in the wild
“The vendor invoked force majeure on the delivery deadline.”
Tone check: Technical
The clause's exact wording decides everything. 'Pandemic' appearing in post-2020 contracts is the industry's scar tissue.