push (one's) buttons
push (one's) buttons
1. To do things that create a very strong emotional reaction in one, especially anger, irritation, or exasperation. I hate Dave's new boyfriend, he's always trying to push my buttons, and he's doing a good job of it! No one will be able to push your buttons like your children, but it's all a part of the adventure of parenthood.
2. To be sexually attractive or arousing to one. A guy who knows how to cook really pushes my buttons.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2015 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
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]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 2003, 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
push (or press) someone's buttons
be successful in arousing or provoking a reaction in someone. informalFarlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017
ˌpush somebody’s ˈbuttons
(also ˌpress somebody’s ˈbuttons especially in British English ) (informal) make somebody react, especially in an angry or excited way: I almost never lose my temper, but this guy can really push my buttons. ♢ I’ve known him for years, but I still don’t really know what pushes his buttons.Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017
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.
The Dictionary of Clichés by Christine Ammer Copyright © 2013 by Christine Ammer