push one's buttons

phrase

informal
: to do or say something just to make someone angry or upset
Don't pay any attention to her. She's just trying to push your buttons.
Even though they're both adults now, Rita's brother still knows how to push her buttons.

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Cite this Entry

“Push one's buttons.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/push%20one%27s%20buttons. Accessed 10 Mar. 2026.

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