diff --git a/docs/specs/dock-spec.md b/docs/specs/dock-spec.md
index 7ba1046..4af1b20 100644
--- a/docs/specs/dock-spec.md
+++ b/docs/specs/dock-spec.md
@@ -80,9 +80,10 @@ The `+` (up) verdict is always "keep this" (`addExample` + train, `findings-feed
 
 | Selector label (UI copy) | Engine `FeedbackMode` | Behaviour |
 |---|---|---|
-| **Push away** (Mode 1) | `Avoid` (`feedback.hpp` enum, `findings-feedback-behaviour.md:90`) | down → geometric-dislike: perturbs the mapping away from what you disliked. In the deployed core this routes to `move_weights(speed, spread, pinMask)` (`plans/feedback-modes-port-spec.md` §2.5 — the true k-NN centroid push is firmware-only, out of scope). |
-| **Explore & place** (Mode 2) | `RandomiseMlp` (`findings-feedback-behaviour.md:122`) | down → snapshot + `draw_weights(spread)` re-rolls the whole net into a scratchpad you audition by moving the joystick; `+`/drag commits a `+1` example at the chosen input and **restores the real net** (`findings-feedback-behaviour.md:135-146`); down-again **cancels** (restore snapshot). |
+| **Push away** (Mode 1) | `Avoid` (`nisps/ml/feedback.hpp`) | down → geometric dislike: stores the rejection and immediately pushes the mapping away from what you disliked; controller-owned elapsed-time replay then continues optimising live rejections (`docs/adr/rl-feedback-design.md`, 2026-07-25 amendment). |
+| **Explore & place** (Mode 2) | `ExploreAndPlace` (`nisps/ml/feedback.hpp`) | down → snapshot + `draw_weights(spread)` re-rolls the whole net into a scratchpad you audition by moving the joystick; `+`/drag commits a positive anchor at the chosen input and **restores the real net**; re-roll and cancel remain distinct Explore-and-place actions (`docs/adr/rl-feedback-design.md` §2.2). |
 
+- **Verdict pointer timing is mode-specific:** in **Push away**, pointer-down MUST dispatch exactly one geometric dislike immediately; holding, pointer-up, and release MUST NOT dispatch another dislike, re-roll/randomise, or cross-route into Explore-and-place. Controller-owned elapsed-time replay MAY continue after that single UI dispatch and is not a repeated held-pointer dispatch. **Explore & place alone** MAY interpret its existing long press as a re-roll.
 - A third engine mode `RandomiseOutputs` (bypass MLP, hold a static random vector, `findings-feedback-behaviour.md:111`) exists in the core but is **not** surfaced as a product mode in v1 — expose it only behind `?debug=1` as "Static roll". **(Open choice 1.)**
 - **Peek**: a 2-segment pill (`Push away` / `Explore & place`), the current mode highlighted in `--accent`. This pill is *also* mirrored next to the Verdict cluster (`VerdictCluster`, `findings-design-and-manifold.md:50`) so it is reachable during live play without opening the drawer — matching how a-immersive puts the `rl-label` above the RL buttons (`aimmersive-clone-spec.md:283`).
 - **Expand**: the pill + a one-line plain-English description of the active mode + an **"exploring…" indicator** that lights when `engine.feedback.exploring()` is true (`findings-feedback-behaviour.md:237`), reusing the `<NoiseRing>` colour ramp (off/active/high, `aimmersive-clone-spec.md:98`). While exploring in Mode 2, training is paused (`learning_paused()`, `findings-feedback-behaviour.md:48`) — show a small "learning paused" badge.
diff --git a/manifold/ONBOARDING.md b/manifold/ONBOARDING.md
index 15bc1ad..48ff8e1 100644
--- a/manifold/ONBOARDING.md
+++ b/manifold/ONBOARDING.md
@@ -183,7 +183,9 @@ sweep (L22, zero consumers) — don't cite them.
 ### Other shared UI files
 - `shared-ui.tsx` — `MiniMeters` (read-only output bars). `AltitudeNav`/`CompactAxis` were deleted with the focus system.
 - `icons.tsx` — monochrome inline-SVG icons (mode icons + drawer icons + `GLYPH_FALLBACK` for when monochrome is off).
-- `VerdictCluster.tsx` — floating bottom-centre feedback UI (perturb ▽ / undo ↺ / commit △ + A/B); labels adapt to feedback mode.
+- `VerdictCluster.tsx` — floating bottom-centre feedback UI (perturb ▽ / undo ↺ / commit △ + A/B);
+  labels and press timing adapt to feedback mode. Push away fires once on pointer-down and
+  never turns a hold into randomisation; the 600 ms long-press re-roll remains Explore-only.
 - `CurvePad.tsx` — square canvas curve editor (vertical drag reshapes [0,1]; ~0.43 ≈ linear). Used in OutputEditor + OutputControlRow.
 - `OutputEditor.tsx` — inline range/curve popup for a single output (hover/click on a bar), using
   `DualRange.tsx` for the shared dual-thumb min/max control.
diff --git a/manifold/src/console/VerdictCluster.tsx b/manifold/src/console/VerdictCluster.tsx
index ebe6af8..d2a9c41 100644
--- a/manifold/src/console/VerdictCluster.tsx
+++ b/manifold/src/console/VerdictCluster.tsx
@@ -1,7 +1,8 @@
 /**
  * VerdictCluster — floating bottom-centre control, the app's main verdict.
  * ▽ perturb (thumbs-down) · ↺ undo · △ commit (thumbs-up).
- * Long-press perturb = full re-roll. Ported from `VerdictCluster.jsx`.
+ * Explore mode retains the ported long-press re-roll gesture. Push away fires
+ * once on pointer-down and never reinterprets a hold as randomisation.
  *
  * The cluster reflects the ACTIVE feedback mode (workstream B; rl-feedback §0):
  *
@@ -12,8 +13,9 @@
  *     thumbs-DOWN = dislike (push away);
  *     thumbs-UP   = like + train.
  *
- * Wiring (in ConsoleApp): onCommit / onPerturb dispatch on the mode; onReroll =
- * re-roll the scratchpad (Mode 2) or the real net.
+ * Wiring (in ConsoleApp): onCommit / onPerturb dispatch on the mode; onReroll
+ * is the Explore-mode long-press path; onRandomise is the explicit secondary
+ * control.
  */
 import { useRef, useState } from 'react';
 import type { CSSProperties } from 'react';
@@ -78,7 +80,7 @@ export function VerdictCluster({
     ? exploring
       ? 'Cancel explore — restore the real net'
       : 'Explore — re-roll into a scratchpad (hold to re-roll again)'
-    : 'Dislike — push the sound away (hold to re-roll)';
+    : 'Dislike — push the sound away';
   const upTitle = explore
     ? exploring
       ? picking
@@ -90,15 +92,28 @@ export function VerdictCluster({
   const lp = useRef<ReturnType<typeof setTimeout> | null>(null);
   const firedReroll = useRef(false);
 
+  const cancelLongPress = () => {
+    if (lp.current) {
+      clearTimeout(lp.current);
+      lp.current = null;
+    }
+  };
   const perturbDown = () => {
+    cancelLongPress();
+    if (!explore) {
+      onPerturb();
+      return;
+    }
     firedReroll.current = false;
     lp.current = setTimeout(() => {
+      lp.current = null;
       firedReroll.current = true;
       onReroll();
     }, 600);
   };
   const perturbUp = () => {
-    if (lp.current) clearTimeout(lp.current);
+    if (!explore) return;
+    cancelLongPress();
     if (!firedReroll.current) onPerturb();
   };
 
@@ -170,9 +185,8 @@ export function VerdictCluster({
           title={downTitle}
           onPointerDown={perturbDown}
           onPointerUp={perturbUp}
-          onPointerLeave={() => {
-            if (lp.current) clearTimeout(lp.current);
-          }}
+          onPointerLeave={cancelLongPress}
+          onPointerCancel={cancelLongPress}
           style={big({
             background: explore && exploring ? 'rgba(255,106,0,0.22)' : 'rgba(255,106,0,0.16)',
             color: 'var(--accent)',
diff --git a/manifold/tests/e2e/geo-dislike.spec.ts b/manifold/tests/e2e/geo-dislike.spec.ts
index 90bafbc..6cba035 100644
--- a/manifold/tests/e2e/geo-dislike.spec.ts
+++ b/manifold/tests/e2e/geo-dislike.spec.ts
@@ -89,6 +89,23 @@ test.describe('geometric dislike (Mode 1) — core-backed', () => {
     expect(result).toEqual({ first: 1, live: 1, second: 1, expired: 0 });
   });
 
+  test('Push away starts once on pointer-down and holding never rerolls', async ({ page }) => {
+    const button = page.getByTitle(/Dislike — push the sound away/);
+    const box = await button.boundingBox();
+    if (!box) throw new Error('negative-feedback button has no bounds');
+
+    await page.mouse.move(box.x + box.width / 2, box.y + box.height / 2);
+    await page.mouse.down();
+    expect(await page.evaluate(() => window.__nisps!.feedbackCounts().negative)).toBe(1);
+
+    await page.waitForTimeout(700);
+    expect(await page.evaluate(() => window.__nisps!.feedbackCounts().negative)).toBe(1);
+
+    await page.mouse.up();
+    expect(await page.evaluate(() => window.__nisps!.feedbackCounts().negative)).toBe(1);
+    await expect(button).not.toHaveAttribute('title', /hold|re-roll/);
+  });
+
   test('expanded Learning panel starts calibrated and can restore upstream defaults', async ({ page }) => {
     await page.getByTitle('Learning', { exact: true }).click();
     await page.getByTitle('Expand', { exact: true }).click();