hot button

Etymology

Definitions

1. 1

   A central issue, concern or characteristic, especially one that motivates people to make…

   A central issue, concern or characteristic, especially one that motivates people to make a choice; sometimes also one that people seek to delay taking sides on.

   • That issue was mostly solved in the modern forces, but it was still a hot button for every student of modern military history.
2. 2

   The principal desire that a salesman needs to "hit" in order to make a sale.

   • Jack Lacey^([sic]), a top rating salesman, says that sales are made by touching off a “hot button” within the prospect’s mind.’
   • So one way of producing conviction is to “find the hot button”— something the other person is currently interested in—and show him how your idea can help him get that.
3. 3

   An emotional trigger

   An emotional trigger; something that arouses strong emotion or opinions.

   • Because when you recognize your main hot button, you can take the necessary steps to diffuse anger and reestablish connectedness in a healthy relationship.
   • “The sooner he gets rid of those children, the better it will be. He is too busy to be encumbered with orphans,” Delleah said. That struck Melissa's hot button. “
4. ›+ 1 more definitionshow fewer

   1. 4

      Alternative form of hot-button.

      • a hot button issue
      • The parties also differed on gun control and other “hot button” issues.

The neighborhood

• neighborhot potato
• neighbornot touch something with a ten-foot pole