red button
Emergency stop control
A red button is a prominent control that triggers an important or irreversible action—stopping machinery, launching missiles, or sending an emergency alert.
The color signals danger or urgency.
Figuratively, pressing the red button means initiating something drastic: The CEO finally hit the red button on layoffs.
Don't touch that red button warns against rash action.
Uncontrollable sudden fear
- alarmUrgent warning signal
- crisisDecisive dangerous moment
- evacuationRemoval from danger
- 911Crisis response number
SOS · mayday · abort · eject · shutdown · override · lockdown · alert
Backward enumeration to zero
- ignitionStarting combustion process
- liftoffMoment of ascent
- blastoffRocket launch moment
- missileSelf-guided airborne weapon
rocket · nuclear · initiate · trigger · deploy · fire · activate · sequence
Force something away
- pressApply force downward
- switchCircuit-breaking toggle device
- toggleTwo-position switch
- activateCause to function
engage · interface · panel · console · dashboard · cockpit · mechanism · input
Exposure to harm
- cautionCareful attention to risk
- hazardSource of potential harm
- forbiddenNot allowed
- temptationUrge toward the unwise
irreversible · consequences · Pandora · curiosity · taboo · off-limits · restricted · guarded
panic
Uncontrollable sudden fear
- alarmUrgent warning signal
- crisisDecisive dangerous moment
- evacuationRemoval from danger
911 · SOS · mayday · abort · eject · shutdown · override · lockdown · alert · siren
countdown
Backward enumeration to zero
missile · rocket · nuclear · initiate · trigger · deploy · fire · activate · sequence · command
push
Force something away
activate · engage · interface · panel · console · dashboard · cockpit · mechanism · input · trigger
danger
Exposure to harm
temptation · irreversible · consequences · Pandora · curiosity · taboo · off-limits · restricted · guarded · protected
halt
Complete sudden stop
abort · cease · e-stop · cutoff · interrupt · override · brake · disconnect · failsafe · circuit-breaker
- safety controlskill switch, brake, e-stop, circuit breaker, cutoff
- TV controlsvolume up, volume down, mute, play, stop
- Cold WarBerlin Wall, Iron Curtain, arms race, Warsaw Pact, Cuban Missile Crisis
- nuclear waratomic bomb, nuclear holocaust, nuclear arsenal, hydrogen bomb, ICBM
- Nuclear Armsnuclear arms, nukes, atom bomb, nuclear warheads, hydrogen bombs
- TV technologyDVR, PVR, timeshift, pause live TV, record
red buttonpeace treaty
Formal end to hostilities
disarmament · nuclear disarmament · olive branch · ceasefire · de-escalation
red buttonsafety switch
Device halting dangerous operation
kill switch · off switch · emergency stop · pause button · undo button
red, button, reds, redder, reddest, reddish, redden, reddened, reddening