push someone's buttons, to
push someone's buttons
Also, press someone's buttons. Draw a strong emotional reaction from someone, especially anger or sexual arousal. For example, My mother-in-law really knew how to push my buttons, or A good-looking redhead, she always seemed to press his buttons. This metaphoric expression transfers activating some mechanism by pushing buttons to human emotions. [Slang; 1920s]
See also: button, push
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
push (or press) someone's buttons
be successful in arousing or provoking a reaction in someone. informalSee also: button, push
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
push someone's buttons, to
To draw a strong emotional response from someone, usually negative. The term originated in the first half of the 1900s and has become a cliché. For example, “I said some negative things about the current administration and that really pushed Mary’s buttons—she exploded.” See also rub the wrong way.
See also: push
The Dictionary of Clichés by Christine Ammer
- make points
- make points (with someone)
- score a point/points
- score points
- have had enough of (someone or something)
- get someone's dander up, to
- the red mist descends
- see (the) red mist
- leave (someone or something) in the hands of (one)
- see red