He was an extremely good speaker and knew just how to push an audience's buttons to keep them interested.
People in your own family know exactly what buttons to push to upset you.
New idioms dictionary. 2014.
Push-button — Buttons on a handheld calculator … Wikipedia
push — (v.) c.1300, from O.Fr. poulser, from L. pulsare to beat, strike, push, frequentative of pellere (pp. pulsus) to push, drive, beat (see PULSE (Cf. pulse) (1)). The noun is first recorded 1570. Meaning approach a certain age is from 1937. Meaning… … Etymology dictionary
push-button — push′ but ton adj. 1) elm operated by or as if by push buttons: push button tuning[/ex] 2) utilizing devices that can be easily activated from a distant location: push button warfare[/ex] • Etymology: 1875–80, amer … From formal English to slang
push button — noun an electrical switch operated by pressing the elevator was operated by push buttons the push beside the bed operated a buzzer at the desk • Syn: ↑push, ↑button • Hypernyms: ↑switch, ↑electric switch, ↑ … Useful english dictionary
push-button — adjective Date: 1916 1. operated or done by means of push buttons < a push button phone > 2. using or dependent on complex and more or less self operating mechanisms that are put in operation by a simple act comparable to pushing a button < push… … New Collegiate Dictionary
push-button — /poosh but n/, adj. 1. operated by or as if by push buttons: push button tuning. 2. using complex, automated weapons, as long range missiles, that require only simple initial steps to put them into action: push button warfare. [1875 80, Amer.] *… … Universalium
push-button — ˈ ̷ ̷ˌ ̷ ̷ ̷ ̷ adjective Etymology: push button 1. : operated, carried on, or done by means of push buttons or as if by such means 2. of warfare : using complex and more or less self operating mechanisms that accomplish missions against enemy… … Useful english dictionary
push-button telephone — telephone which is operated by push buttons, telephone that is not rotary … English contemporary dictionary
push the right buttons — push/press/the right buttons mainly journalism phrase to please an audience with a political speech by saying things that the audience agrees with The Prime Minister’s speech pushed all the right buttons. Thesaurus: to perform or entertain, or to … Useful english dictionary
push someone's buttons — push (someone s) buttons to do exactly the right thing to get people to act the way you want. He was an extremely good speaker and knew just how to push an audience s buttons to keep them interested. Usage notes: also used in the form know what… … New idioms dictionary
