Synonyms

panic button

American

noun

an alarm button for use in an emergency, as to summon help.

idioms

push / hit / press the panic button, to give way to panic in a distressing situation.

panic button British

noun

a button or switch that operates any of various safety devices, for use in an emergency
informal to react to a situation by demanding emergency action; become excited; panic

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of panic button

Allegedly first used in reference to emergency bell systems on World War II bombers such as the B-17 and B-24

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

This week’s software-stock selloff feels like the latest reason to reach for the career panic button, unless you happen to be an artificial-intelligence developer.

From The Wall Street Journal

He is also building a panic button into the digital wallet.

From BBC

"Let us not press panic buttons because the USA has got a problem with countries," Holomisa said.

From Barron's

No one is pushing a panic button just yet, though.

From Barron's

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023