hot-button issue
14
4.7
- noun
- /hɑtˈbʌtən ˈɪʃu/
:
tema polémico
- Political consultants profile voters to spot hot-button issues.
- hot-button issues like abortion
- hot-button issue of immigration
- hot-button issues of race
I didn't get why the Che character was such a hot button issue for people.
- I didn't get why the Che character was such a hot button issue for people.
- And it's obviously a hot button issue, but this girl called me in tears.
- Anyone who lived through the last week in the Boston area was aware of what a hot button issue immigration currently is.
- It's kind of some of it's horrible, but you know, it, it becomes this hot button issue because it's them.
- I think a lot of that has to do with division around hot button issue these days is the vaccine.
- So of course we, we know these hot, hot button issues like abortion, like gun control and, and these things and, and, and there you have arguments.
- So of course we, we know this hot, hot button issues like abortion, like gun control and, and these things and, and, and there you have arguments.
Examples
-
But it was a politically appealing attack on a hot-button issue, and no elected official could stop its trajectory.
Academic text (2002) -
Territorial regional disputes have become hot-button issues for China, which Beijing is increasingly unafraid to push back on.
Blog text (1) -
Anyone who lived through the last week in the Boston area was aware of what a hot button issue immigration currently is.
-
Would you be willing to compromise on some of the hot-button issues of today for the sake of your relationship?
Blog text (27) -
Findings on the hot-button issue of Islam are striking.
Academic text (2006) -
Libya was brought up at the 1st presidential debate; it's a hot-button issue for both parties.
Blog text (20) -
Many of today's hot-button issues will seem irrelevant when the state runs completely out of money.
Blog text (13) -
Dwyer recalled race being a hot-button issue in early Levittown.
Blog text (24) -
Excavation and reburial of Native American remains had become a hot-button issue, eliciting both state and federal laws and regulations.
Academic text (2009) -
The debate over climate change has become a hot-button issue that divides many communities.
Synonyms
465
4.9
A long public disagreement that causes strong arguments between people
27
3.0
A subject many people talk about because it causes strong opinions
10
5.1
A topic that causes strong disagreement between people
7
5.6
A difficult issue people try to avoid or pass to others
5
9.3
An event like a trial that gets a lot of public attention because people strongly disagree about it
4
5.2
A subject that causes disagreement between people
1
3.4
A subject people often argue about
A topic that makes people feel strong emotions
A topic that causes strong arguments and trouble
How Controversial
- Informal
14
4.7
10
5.1
∞
3.0
Surface Forms
Morphology
hot-button + issue
The adjective combines 'hot' (emotionally charged) with 'button' used metaphorically as a trigger, so part of the meaning (emotionally provocative) is recoverable from the parts. However, understanding that 'button' here means a trigger for strong reactions is metaphorical and not fully predictable for a B1 learner without prior exposure, so the phrase is only partially transparent.
Etymology
The phrase hot-button issue may come from the image of a very hot button that, if you press it, makes a loud noise or sparks and causes a strong reaction. That's why the phrase now means 'a topic that makes people react strongly'.