1. (Historical) An undeclared attack by Japan on United States military installations in Hawaii (including the naval base at Pearl Harbor) on
December 7, 1941 that led to the United States entering the Second World War.
2. A generic reference to a 'sneak attack' of any kind.
3. An awful 2001 movie, with fictional 'pretty boys' inserted into the historical events of Pearl Harbor in a similar way that Leonardo DiCaprio's character was inserted into the historical events surrounding the sinking of the Titanic in the movie of the same name. (One perceptive critic described the movie as "Titanic with bombs"). The movie was savaged by the critics, although it was a financial success. To see a
reasonably accurate filmed history of Pearl Harbor, see
Tora Tora Tora (1970).
Example:
1. The
battleships U.S.S. Arizona and U.S.S. Oklahoma were destroyed in the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.
2. Are you trying to pull a Pearl Harbor on me?
3. The only way to watch the movie Pearl Harbor is on DVD, with liberal use of
the fast forward button.