Buttonhole
noun
A hole in cloth where you put a button through to close something.
The shirt's buttonholes were too small for the buttons.
Often appears as...
- dress shirt buttonhole
- coat buttonhole
verb
To hold someone's attention in conversation without letting them leave or change the subject.
He buttonholed me at the conference and wouldn't stop talking about his project.
Usage tips
Colloquial
noun
A hole in cloth where you put a button through to close something.
The shirt's buttonholes were too small for the buttons.
Often appears as...
- dress shirt buttonhole
- coat buttonhole
verb
To hold someone's attention in conversation without letting them leave or change the subject.
He buttonholed me at the conference and wouldn't stop talking about his project.
Usage tips
Colloquial
Definition 1 of 2
Pro Tip 1/3Clothing Focus
Buttonhole refers specifically to the part of clothing that receives the button.
He sewed a buttonhole onto his jacket.
Pro Tip 2/3Sewing Term
Use 'buttonhole' to talk about the design or sewing process of garments.
I need to make the buttonholes on this dress a bit larger.
Pro Tip 3/3Precise Fit
A buttonhole must accurately fit the button's size for proper function.
The tailor carefully measured the buttons to create precise buttonholes.
Pro Tip 1/3Clothing Focus
Buttonhole refers specifically to the part of clothing that receives the button.
He sewed a buttonhole onto his jacket.
Pro Tip 2/3Sewing Term
Use 'buttonhole' to talk about the design or sewing process of garments.
I need to make the buttonholes on this dress a bit larger.
Pro Tip 3/3Precise Fit
A buttonhole must accurately fit the button's size for proper function.
The tailor carefully measured the buttons to create precise buttonholes.
Pro Tip 1/3Clothing Focus
Buttonhole refers specifically to the part of clothing that receives the button.
He sewed a buttonhole onto his jacket.
Pro Tip 2/3Sewing Term
Use 'buttonhole' to talk about the design or sewing process of garments.
I need to make the buttonholes on this dress a bit larger.
Pro Tip 3/3Precise Fit
A buttonhole must accurately fit the button's size for proper function.
The tailor carefully measured the buttons to create precise buttonholes.
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Video examples
How the button changed...
It's one of the most enduring designs in history. For me, the best buttons are usually round. There's either a dome button with a little shank, or there's just this sort of round thing with either a rim or not a rim, either two holes or four holes. Almost more important than the button is the buttonhole. And the way you figure that out
Video examples
How the button changed...
It's one of the most enduring designs in history. For me, the best buttons are usually round. There's either a dome button with a little shank, or there's just this sort of round thing with either a rim or not a rim, either two holes or four holes. Almost more important than the button is the buttonhole. And the way you figure that out
Example 1 of 1
Quote examples
Andrew Marr
British Journalist
The business of funding digging journalists is important to encourage. It cannot be replaced by bloggers who don't have access to politicians, who don't have easy access to official documents, who aren't able to buttonhole people in power.
Quote examples
Harry Graf Kessler
German Diplomat
I am utterly, consummately intense, wearing sunflowers and poppies and dahlias in my buttonhole.
Quote examples
William Makepeace Thackeray
English Novelist
When I walk with you I feel as if I had a flower in my buttonhole.
Quote examples
Andrew Marr
British Journalist
The business of funding digging journalists is important to encourage. It cannot be replaced by bloggers who don't have access to politicians, who don't have easy access to official documents, who aren't able to buttonhole people in power.
Quote examples
Harry Graf Kessler
German Diplomat
I am utterly, consummately intense, wearing sunflowers and poppies and dahlias in my buttonhole.
Quote examples
William Makepeace Thackeray
English Novelist
When I walk with you I feel as if I had a flower in my buttonhole.
Example 1 of 3
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