The phrase "pushes one's buttons" generally means that something or someone is triggering an emotional response. There are a number of synonyms for this phrase, including "gets under one's skin," "rubs one the wrong way," "irritates," "annoys," "exasperates," "provokes," and "angers." Different people may experience different emotions when their buttons are pushed, so there are also synonyms for specific emotions such as "frightens," "saddens," and "disappoints." It's important to be aware of what pushes our buttons so that we can learn to manage our emotions and responses more effectively.