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Glite Dictionary
to button up

to button up

3 7.1
To stop talking suddenly and not answer questions
  • phrasal verb
  • Informal
translation icon : callarse
  • "Why don't we button up?" suggested Abu Hassam.
  • wants us to button up

You may believe that is who you are and completely button up about sharing anything about yourself because of that characterization of it.

Examples

  • When the discussion turned to his personal life, he decided to button up and not share any details.

  • I just... - I just wanted you to button up. - Can I play till 5:30? - Yeah.

    The Forgotten (2004)

  • You may believe that is who you are and completely button up about sharing anything about yourself because of that characterization of it.

    DoctorRamani

  • I told Niy. I told him to back off, quiet down, and button up: it would be 48.

    Fiction book (1991)

  • "You go inside and check the fuel cells, make sure all the comm systems are working" and call back to the base, let 'em know we're buttoned up for the night.

    Fiction book (1999)

  • After being questioned by the reporters, she chose to button up rather than answer their probing inquiries.

  • Feeling overwhelmed by the situation, he quickly buttoned up and stopped sharing his thoughts.

Synonyms

to shut up
vsto button up
  • Offensive
∞ 4.1

Tell someone to be quiet in a rude or angry way

is sudden refusal to speak without the rude command aspect
to be quiet
vsto button up
231 1.0

To stop making noise or talking

is usually a sudden refusal to speak rather than neutral quietness
to clam up
vsto button up
  • Informal
14 6.6

Stop talking suddenly because you are nervous or do not want to say anything

is a sudden refusal to speak that need not be caused by nerves
to close up
vsto button up
10 4.8

To stop talking and say nothing

is similar but can also be sudden silence without unwillingness
to shut one's mouth
vsto button up
  • Informal
4 4.4

To stop talking to keep a secret or when told to be quiet

is the sudden refusal to speak not only due to instruction
to keep mum
vsto button up
  • Informal
3 7.5

Stay quiet about something private

is the same idea but often sudden rather than secretive
to dummy up
vsto button up
  • Archaic
9.6

Refuse to speak or suddenly stop talking when asked

is broader sudden silence not tied to being asked for information
to button one's lip
vsto button up
  • Informal
7.2

To keep quiet on purpose and not tell others

is more about sudden refusal to speak rather than planned silence
to belt up
vsto button up
  • Offensive
9.2

To tell someone to stop talking and be quiet

is sudden silence without the blunt informal command tone

Antonyms

to talk
∞ 1.0

Speak with someone to share ideas or information

to speak up
43 2.0

Talk more loudly so people can hear you

How Talkative

to speak
∞ 1.0
to talk
∞ 1.0
to chat
  • Informal
269 1.0
to be quiet
231 1.0
to button up
  • Informal
3 7.1

Surface Forms

button up infinitive
buttoned up past
buttoned up past participle
buttoning up present participle
buttons up third person singular

Morphology

button + up

The verb 'button' (to fasten) plus the particle 'up' (completive/secure) evokes a metaphor of closing or shutting, so there is a partial link to 'shutting' one's mouth. However, the specific sense 'refuse to talk / fall silent' is a figurative extension (cf. 'button your lip') rather than a directly compositional meaning, and the competing literal senses (fasten clothing; finish) make the intended meaning unpredictable for a B1 learner without prior exposure.

Etymology

Button up comes from the picture of closing a coat with buttons: you fasten the button and pull up the coat to close it. That closing is like keeping your mouth shut, so button up came to mean 'refuse to talk' or 'fall silent'.