To deliberately or inadvertently trigger someone's emotional reactions, especially anger or irritation, by targeting their sensitive areas or pet peeves. Often implies knowing exactly what will provoke a response.
This phrase emerged in the 1960s with the rise of electronic devices with push buttons, replacing earlier mechanical switches. The metaphor suggests people have emotional 'buttons' that, when pressed, produce predictable responses. It reflects our increasingly technological understanding of cause-and-effect relationships in human behavior.
What's fascinating is how this mechanical metaphor has become so natural we forget how recent it is - before the 1960s, people would have said 'pull my strings' or 'strike a nerve.' The button metaphor implies both precision (you know exactly which button to push) and automation (push button, get reaction), reflecting our modern view of psychology as somewhat programmable.
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