beg button

9.1

An action that asks people for help or sympathy

noun

Informal

: pedir ayuda

She didn't want to press the beg button, but she had no other option left.

Examples

Whenever he faces criticism, he is quick to hit the beg button and ask for support.
Some employees tend to use the beg button when deadlines approach.
Don't beg button me!
He always presses the beg button when he needs money.
When she realized she couldn't finish the project alone, she decided to press the beg button and ask her colleagues for help.
During the meeting, he hit the beg button by requesting additional resources from management.
After struggling with her workload, she reluctantly used the beg button to seek assistance from her team.

Synonyms

plea

vsbeg button

195 3.9

A strong request asking people for help or support

is an informal metaphorical tactic aimed at getting sympathy rather than a direct request

begging

vsbeg button

14 1.9

Asking people on the street for money or food because you are poor

is a figurative tactic to gain sympathy not literal public asking for money

How Persuasive

beg button

Informal

9.1

appeal

136 2.9

plea

195 3.9

to request

∞ 1.0

to hint

136 2.0

Surface Forms

beg button singular

beg buttons plural

Morphology

beg + button

The noun combines the literal verb 'beg' (to plead) with 'button' used metaphorically as a trigger (as in 'press someone's buttons'), so a learner who knows both words could infer this refers to a tactic that elicits pleading or sympathy. However, the metaphorical use of 'button' and the informal slangy framing are not fully predictable from the parts alone, so some prior exposure is needed.

Etymology

The expression beg button gives a simple picture: imagine a small button labelled beg that someone can press to make others feel sorry and offer help. So, to 'press the beg button' means to use a quick, often emotional act to 'get help' or 'get sympathy'.