push/hit/press the panic button

phrase

: 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

In the viral video, employees can be heard shouting for someone to press the panic button. — Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, FOXNews.com, 25 Feb. 2026

So when there's even just the smallest amount of concern over the status of the former Offensive Player of the Year, few can blame them for rushing to hit the panic button. — Michael Gallagher, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Sep. 2025

The New York Yankees were handed a series loss by the rival Boston Red Sox on Sunday, though there's no need to hit the panic button. — Peter Chawaga, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 June 2025

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