nuclear button

Noun

nuclear button (plural nuclear buttons)

1. The means (not likely literally a button) of quickly and easily launching nuclear warheads.
   • Imagine, now, this irrepressible figure [Boris Johnson] transposed to the Group of 8 summit chamber, or with his finger on the nuclear button, or in the Downing Street equivalent of the White House Situation Room, deciding whether or not to send British troops to war.2014 September 1, Matthew d’Ancona, “Boris Johnson’s Blond Ambition”, in New York Times
   • Reportedly, as Yeltsin accepted the need for bypass surgery he at first considered delegating responsibility for security to Premier Chernomyrdin, but retaining the nuclear button.2019, Dietrich Schroeer, Alessandro Pascolini, The Weapons Legacy of the Cold War, page 77
2. (broadly) The means of triggering a huge controversy, fight, or act of destruction.
   • The four left the meeting and in their absence the nuclear button was pushed. A daring plan was hatched to fully underwrite Ireland's entire banking network.2012, David Murphy, Martina Devlin, Banksters, page 1972
   • We’ve now had 20 years of cautionary tales about replyallpocalypses. For the sake of workplace harmony: keep your pointer off the nuclear button.2017 February 3, Elle Hunt, “When is it appropriate to reply all? Mostly never”, in The Guardian