gets a rise
Pushes someone's buttons
Gets a rise means to provoke a reaction from someone, usually by teasing or irritating them.
The phrase suggests successfully baiting someone into responding emotionally: He keeps making those comments just to get a rise out of you.
The rise is the visible uptick in agitation or annoyance.
Sometimes the phrase implies the provocation was deliberate and the reaction predictable.
- amuseCause light enjoyment
- irritateCause mild anger
- push buttonsDeliberately provoke irritation
- provokeIncite a response
- ruffle feathersTo annoy or disturb
antagonize · agitate · stir up · exasperate · wind up · work up · fluster · annoy · tease · pull leg · joke · prod · goad · egg on · instigate · mock · frustrate · needle
engagement success
gets a risefalls flat
Fails to resonate
bores · puts to sleep · bombs · draws a blank