From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishbe the trigger (point) (for something)be the trigger (point) (for something)CAUSEto be the thing that quickly causes a serious problem The hijacking became a trigger point for military action. → trigger
Examples from the Corpus
be the trigger (point) (for something)• I had provided the direction in my lecture, and Our discussion was the trigger.• All we had to experience was the trigger and off we went into a state of fear.• Could either or both factors be the trigger?• And the loss of the ally may be the trigger which will start chain fission.• The new stand was the trigger for the layout.• That was the trigger that started the weeping.• Your saying the work is urgent is the trigger, the result is lateness. 