pressure point

American  

noun

1. a point on the skin that is extremely sensitive to pressure because of the presence of pressure-sensing organs.

2. a point on the body where relatively slight pressure serves to press an artery lying close to the surface against underlying bony tissue, so as to arrest the flow of blood into a part.

3. a sensitive, crucial area or issue against which concerted persuasion or pressure tactics can be wielded to produce a desired result.

   Lobbyists attempt to find the pressure points of government.

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pressure point British  

noun

1. any of several points on the body above an artery that, when firmly pressed, will control bleeding from the artery at a point farther away from the heart

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Etymology

Origin of pressure point

First recorded in 1875–80

Example Sentences

It reveals itself in patterns, in pressure points, in the way a body moves through the world.

From Salon

Millions of Americans are starting to see their monthly health-insurance bills rise, a new pressure point for a nation still frustrated with the high cost of living.

From The Wall Street Journal

The end result is another pressure point for consumers already weary of increasing costs and rising debts.

From MarketWatch

Food inflation, in particular, remains a pressure point, as Japanese companies feel more comfortable passing on costs to consumers.

From The Wall Street Journal

Sergey Radchenko, a professor at Johns Hopkins University, recalled how before the 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine senior Russian strategists frequently talked of using security presence in Venezuela as a pressure point against the U.S.

From The Wall Street Journal