How Do You Spell PUSHED BUTTONS?
Pronunciation: [pˈʊʃt bˈʌtənz] (IPA) 
Pronunciation: [pˈʊʃt bˈʌtənz] (IPA)
"Pushed buttons" refers to a phrase that is used metaphorically to describe actions or words that intentionally provoke or elicit a strong emotional response from someone. When someone's buttons are pushed, it means that their sensitive points or triggers have been purposely identified and exploited to provoke a reaction or manipulation.
The term "pushed buttons" is derived from the literal act of pressing buttons on a machine or device, which typically leads to an immediate and predictable response. In the context of interpersonal communication or relationships, pushing someone's buttons involves intentionally saying or doing something that triggers a strong emotional reaction, usually negativel, in order to gain control, influence, or simply to agitate the person.
Pushed buttons can be based on various factors such as personal beliefs, insecurities, values, traumas, or sensitivities. For example, bringing up a sensitive topic, making derogatory comments, manipulating guilt, or making provocative statements about deeply held beliefs can all be ways to push someone's buttons. The aim of pushing buttons is usually to provoke anger, frustration, sadness, or other intense emotional responses in order to manipulate or control the person.
In conclusion, when someone's buttons are pushed, it means that someone has deliberately invoked a strong emotional reaction from them by touching upon sensitive subjects or exploiting their weaknesses.
The term "pushed buttons" is not a word with an etymological history but rather a phrase composed of two separate words - "Pushed" and "buttons". However, both words do have their own etymological origins.
1. Pushed: The word "pushed" is the past tense and past participle form of the verb "push". It comes from the Old French word "pousser", which means "to push, thrust, or exert pressure". The Old French word itself has Germanic roots and can be traced back to the Proto-Germanic word "pōtsōną".
2. Buttons: The term "buttons" derives from the Latin word "bottōnem" meaning "a bud or protuberance". From Latin, it moved into Old French as "boton", and eventually, it was adopted in Middle English as "button".
