on the button

But·ton (b

n), Richard Totten Known as "Dick." Born 1929.

American figure skater who was U.S. men's champion from 1946 to 1952 and won Olympic gold medals in 1948 and 1952.

but·ton (b

a. A generally disk-shaped fastener used to join two parts of a garment by fitting through a buttonhole or loop.

b. Such an object used for decoration.

2. Any of various objects resembling a button, especially:

a. A push-button switch.

b. The blunt tip of a fencing foil.

c. A fused metal or glass globule.

3. Computer Science

a. In graphical user interface systems, a well-defined area within the interface that is clicked to select a command.

b. In a hypertext database, an icon that when selected allows a user to view a particular associated object.

4. Any of various knoblike structures of a plant or animal, especially:

a. An immature, unexpanded mushroom.

b. The tip of a rattlesnake's rattle.

5. A usually round flat badge that bears a design or printed information and is typically pinned to a garment: a campaign button.

6. Informal The end of the chin, regarded as the point of impact for a punch.

v. but·toned, but·ton·ing, but·tons

v.tr.

1. To fasten with buttons: buttoned his shirt; buttoned up her raincoat.

2. To decorate or furnish with buttons.

3. Informal To close (the lips or mouth): Button your lip.

v.intr.

To be or be capable of being fastened with buttons: The blouse buttons up the back.

Phrasal Verb:

button up

1. To fasten one's clothing tightly, as against cold weather.

2. To close or seal securely: button up the cabin for winter.

3. To complete the final details of: "Publication is a couple of months off; they're just buttoning up paperback rights" (Donald Dale Jackson).

Idiom:

on the button

Exactly; precisely.

[Middle English, from Old French bouton, from bouter, to thrust, of Germanic origin; see bhau- in Indo-European roots.]

button·er n.

button·y adj.

ThesaurusLegend: Synonyms Related Words Antonyms

Adj.	1.	on the button - being precise with regard to a prescribed or specified criterion; "his guess was on the nose"; "the prediction for snow was right on the button" on the nose precise - sharply exact or accurate or delimited; "a precise mind"; "specified a precise amount"; "arrived at the precise moment"
Adv.	1.	on the button - just as it should be; "`Precisely, my lord,' he said" on the dot, on the nose, exactly, precisely

Mentioned in	?		References in classic literature	?		Dictionary browser	?		Full browser	?
bachelor's button bell push belly button bustard quail Button button quail button up button-down button-quail buttoned-up coat button genus Turnix hemipode horn button mescal button mouse button panic button peyote push	He stopped Symon, who had an automatic finger on the button, saying: "No, leave all the lights on. The Man Who Knew Too Much by Chesterton, Gilbert K. View in context Carrying the night-stick in his hand, his finger on the button, he advanced through the darkness. The Night-Born by London, Jack View in context	on occasion on one hand on one's guard On one's hands on one's high horse On one's honor On one's last legs On one's legs On one's own account On one's own hook on paper On penalty of on purpose on request On shore On sufferance on tap on that on that point on the air On the alert on the average on the ball On the beam On the bow on the button On the cards on the coattails on the coattails of on the contrary On the docket on the dole on the dot On the European plan on the face of it on the fence on the fly on the go On the hoof on the hook On the jar on the job On the lee beam On the line on the lookout for on the loose On the make on the mend On the nail On the neck of on the nose	On the Board on the boil on the bone on the bone on the bone on the books On the Border On the Borderline on the bottom rung On the bow On the bow on the brain on the brain on the brain on the brain on the bridle on the bridle on the bridle on the bridle on the bridle on the bright side on the brink on the brink on the brink of on the brink of on the bubble on the bum on the bum on the bum on the bum on the button On the Capitol Doorstep on the cards on the cards on the cards on the cards on the carpet on the carpet on the carpet on the case on the chance on the chance on the chance on the chance on the cheap on the cheap on the cheap on the cheap On the Chip On the Close On the close order on the coattails on the coattails of on the confines of on the contrary on the contrary on the contrary on the contrary on the contrary On the Course Side on the cuff

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bachelor's button
bell push
belly button
bustard quail
Button
button quail
button up
button-down
button-quail
buttoned-up
coat button
genus Turnix
hemipode
horn button
mescal button
mouse button
panic button
peyote
push

He stopped Symon, who had an automatic finger on the button, saying: "No, leave all the lights on.

The Man Who Knew Too Much by Chesterton, Gilbert K. View in context

Carrying the night-stick in his hand, his finger on the button, he advanced through the darkness.

The Night-Born by London, Jack View in context