push/hit/press the panic button
idiom
: to become extremely afraid or nervous when something bad happens or might happen
Medical officials says there is no need to push the panic button over two isolated cases of the disease.
Examples of push/hit/press the panic button in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Recent results might cause Manchester City to hit the panic button, but such a move would go completely against the club’s strategy during Pep Guardiola’s time as head coach.
—
Steve Price, Forbes, 27 Nov. 2024
After 10 games of mostly poor defensive play, is the time getting close to hit the panic button?
—Mike Preston, Baltimore Sun, 14 Nov. 2024
India skipper Rohit Sharma is not one to press the panic button.
—Tim Ellis, Forbes, 21 Oct. 2024
But should those clubs hit the panic button now, or give their coaching teams more time?
—Steve Price, Forbes, 10 Oct. 2024
Politicians, party hacks, and fat-cat donors hit the panic button and put the screws to Biden to compel him to drop out of the race.
—Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 22 July 2024
Nigeria’s swerve toward insecurity has prompted even sober and well-respected analysts to press the panic button.
—Fola Aina, Foreign Affairs, 5 May 2021
But Peter Vermes is clearly not ready to press the panic button.
—Daniel Sperry, Kansas City Star, 21 Apr. 2024
For now, overall crypto prices are stable, and there is no reason to hit the panic button.
—Jeff John Roberts, Fortune Crypto, 7 Aug. 2023
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Steve Price, Forbes, 27 Nov. 2024
After 10 games of mostly poor defensive play, is the time getting close to hit the panic button?
—Mike Preston, Baltimore Sun, 14 Nov. 2024
India skipper Rohit Sharma is not one to press the panic button.
—Tim Ellis, Forbes, 21 Oct. 2024
But should those clubs hit the panic button now, or give their coaching teams more time?
—Steve Price, Forbes, 10 Oct. 2024
Politicians, party hacks, and fat-cat donors hit the panic button and put the screws to Biden to compel him to drop out of the race.
—Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 22 July 2024
Nigeria’s swerve toward insecurity has prompted even sober and well-respected analysts to press the panic button.
—Fola Aina, Foreign Affairs, 5 May 2021
But Peter Vermes is clearly not ready to press the panic button.
—Daniel Sperry, Kansas City Star, 21 Apr. 2024
For now, overall crypto prices are stable, and there is no reason to hit the panic button.
—Jeff John Roberts, Fortune Crypto, 7 Aug. 2023
Dictionary Entries Near push/hit/press the panic button
Cite this Entry
“Push/hit/press the panic button.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/push%2Fhit%2Fpress%20the%20panic%20button. Accessed 12 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share