push someone's buttons
English
editAlternative forms
editEtymology
edit(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium. Particularly: “Which sense of “button”? When did the expression originate?”)
Pronunciation
editVerb
editpush someone's buttons (third-person singular simple present pushes someone's buttons, present participle pushing someone's buttons, simple past and past participle pushed someone's buttons)
- (informal) To do specific things to anger someone (or, less commonly, to sexually arouse or otherwise elicit a strong reaction from them), especially intentionally or maliciously.
- You really knew how to push my buttons.
Usage notes
edit- Particularly used of actions that affect the recipient but not other people, such as bringing up a particular upsetting topic or performing an irritating activity.
Synonyms
edit- trigger (“to spark a response”)
Translations
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