press the right button



press/push the right button/buttons

to do exactly what is necessary to get the result that you want You have to know how to push all the right buttons if you want to be a successful diplomat. Sometimes you're interviewing someone really shy and then you press the right button and they just don't stop talking.
See also: button, press, right

Common Names:

NameGenderPronouncedUsage
Jeremiasye-re-MEE-ahs (German), YE-re-mee-ahs (Finnish)German, Portuguese, Finnish
Millaray-Native American, Mapuche
Sima (1)-Persian
Vosgi-Armenian
Hibikihee-bee-keeJapanese
NjÁLl-Norse Mythology, Ancient Scandinavian, Icelandic