단추구멍
A buttonhole is the small slit in a piece of clothing that a button passes through to fasten it.
Explanation at your level:
A buttonhole is a small hole in your clothes. You put a button through it. This keeps your shirt closed. It is very useful!
When you wear a shirt, you use buttons. The buttonhole is the slit where the button goes. If the hole is too small, the button will not fit. If it is too big, the button will fall out.
In tailoring, the buttonhole is a critical feature. It is usually stitched around the edges so the fabric does not tear. You might also hear the phrase 'to buttonhole someone,' which means to stop someone to talk to them even if they are busy.
The buttonhole is a functional element of design, but it also has a decorative history. On high-end suits, you will often find a 'flower buttonhole' on the lapel. This is a vestige of a time when men wore fresh flowers on their jackets daily.
Beyond its literal definition, the verb 'to buttonhole' implies a sense of social imposition. It characterizes a situation where one party is detained by another, often in a persistent or slightly aggressive manner. It highlights the power dynamic in a conversation where one person lacks the exit strategy.
Etymologically, the buttonhole represents the intersection of utility and aesthetics in sartorial history. The evolution of the buttonhole stitch signifies a milestone in garment construction, allowing for more complex layering and fitted silhouettes. Its figurative usage in literature often paints a vivid picture of a character being trapped in an unwanted social interaction.
30秒でわかる単語
- A buttonhole is a slit for a button.
- It is a standard sewing term.
- It can also mean to trap someone in conversation.
- It is a countable, regular noun.
Hey there! Let's talk about the buttonhole. It is a super simple but essential part of our daily lives. Without these little slits, our shirts, coats, and pants would just fall right off! A buttonhole is essentially a precise cut in fabric that is usually finished with thread to prevent it from fraying.
Think of it as the partner to the button. They work as a team to keep your clothes secure. While we often take them for granted, they are a masterpiece of functional design. Whether you are dressing for a formal event or just putting on your favorite pajamas, you are interacting with this clever little invention every single day.
The word buttonhole is a compound of 'button' and 'hole,' appearing in English during the 16th century. Historically, buttons were initially used more for decoration than for fastening, but as tailoring evolved, the need for a secure way to hold them in place became clear.
The technique used to reinforce the edges of the hole is known as a buttonhole stitch. This specialized sewing method was developed to ensure that the fabric wouldn't rip under the tension of the button. It is a fascinating piece of textile history that shows how humans have been solving practical problems with clever engineering for hundreds of years!
You will mostly hear this word in the context of sewing, fashion, or tailoring. Common collocations include 'to sew a buttonhole' or 'the buttonhole is frayed.' In a more social context, you might hear the verb form to buttonhole someone, which means to stop someone and force them to listen to you.
The register is generally neutral. You can use it in casual conversation about clothes or in a professional setting when discussing garment manufacturing. It is a very specific, concrete noun that rarely causes confusion in daily English.
The most famous idiom is 'to buttonhole someone.' It means to stop someone in a public place and force them to listen to your conversation, often when they are trying to leave. For example: 'He buttonholed me at the party to talk about his new business idea for an hour.'
While there aren't many other common idioms, the term is iconic in the world of formal wear, specifically the lapel buttonhole, which is the small hole on a suit jacket lapel meant for a boutonniere. It represents a classic, sophisticated style.
The word is a regular countable noun. You can have one buttonhole or many buttonholes. It is pronounced with the stress on the first syllable: BUT-ton-hole. In IPA, it is written as /ˈbʌtənˌhoʊl/.
It rhymes with words like pole, sole, and goal. Grammatically, it functions as a standard noun, often appearing after adjectives like 'tight,' 'loose,' or 'reinforced.' It is a straightforward word that follows standard English pluralization rules by simply adding an 's'.
Fun Fact
The term was used in the 1500s to describe the specific slit in a doublet.
Pronunciation Guide
Clear 't' sound and a rounded 'o'
Slightly more nasal 'o'
Common Errors
- dropping the 't' sound
- mispronouncing the 'hole' as 'holly'
- stressing the second syllable
Rhymes With
Difficulty Rating
easy
moderate
moderate
easy
What to Learn Next
Prerequisites
Learn Next
上級
Grammar to Know
Compound Nouns
button + hole = buttonhole
Regular Plurals
buttonhole -> buttonholes
Transitive Verbs
I buttonholed him
Examples by Level
The button goes in the buttonhole.
button-in-hole
Subject-verb-object
My shirt has a buttonhole.
shirt-has-hole
Possessive
This buttonhole is small.
hole-is-small
Adjective usage
I need a buttonhole.
need-hole
Verb-object
The button is in the buttonhole.
button-inside
Preposition
Look at the buttonhole.
see-the-hole
Imperative
It is a blue buttonhole.
blue-hole
Color adjective
Fix the buttonhole.
repair-hole
Imperative
The buttonhole is torn.
Can you sew this buttonhole?
The button fell out of the buttonhole.
This coat has many buttonholes.
I cannot find the buttonhole.
The buttonhole is too tight.
She made a new buttonhole.
The button fits the buttonhole.
He buttonholed me to talk about his project.
The tailor reinforced the buttonhole.
Check if the buttonhole is frayed.
The buttonhole on my jacket is for a flower.
She struggled to push the button through the buttonhole.
The machine makes perfect buttonholes.
Don't buttonhole me right now, I'm busy.
The buttonhole stitch is very strong.
He was buttonholed by a persistent salesman in the lobby.
The artisan carefully hand-stitched the buttonhole.
A well-made buttonhole is a sign of quality tailoring.
The lapel buttonhole is a classic detail on men's suits.
She felt buttonholed by his endless questions.
The buttonhole was slightly misaligned.
Modern machines can create a buttonhole in seconds.
He wore a carnation in his lapel buttonhole.
I was buttonholed by a colleague who wanted to vent about the new policy.
The intricate buttonhole work on the vintage coat was exquisite.
He tried to escape, but was buttonholed by the director.
The buttonhole acts as a structural anchor for the garment.
She found herself buttonholed by the local historian.
The subtle detail of the hand-worked buttonhole impressed the judges.
Being buttonholed by a stranger is a common city experience.
The buttonhole serves both a utilitarian and aesthetic purpose.
The sartorial elegance of the garment was marred by a poorly finished buttonhole.
He was effectively buttonholed, unable to extricate himself from the tedious discourse.
The evolution of the buttonhole reflects the history of human clothing construction.
One must appreciate the craftsmanship required to create a functional buttonhole.
He was buttonholed in the corridor and forced to listen to the entire saga.
The buttonhole stitch remains a staple technique in traditional tailoring.
The buttonhole on the lapel is a vestigial feature of historic military uniforms.
To be buttonholed is to be held captive by the sheer force of another's rhetoric.
よく使う組み合わせ
Idioms & Expressions
"buttonhole someone"
to stop someone and force them to talk
He buttonholed me at the office.
casual"in the buttonhole"
worn on the lapel
He had a flower in his buttonhole.
formal"buttonhole stitch"
a specific sewing technique
She learned the buttonhole stitch.
technical"buttoned up"
to be closed or secret
He is very buttoned up.
idiomatic"bursting at the buttons"
to be very full
I am bursting at the buttons.
casual"on the button"
exactly on time
He arrived at five on the button.
casualEasily Confused
Related objects
Button is the fastener, hole is the opening
The button goes in the hole.
Both are holes
Eyelets are for laces
The shoe has eyelets.
Both are openings
Buttonhole is specific to buttons
A slit can be anywhere.
Both hold buttons
Loops are usually fabric strings
The dress has a button loop.
Sentence Patterns
The buttonhole is [adjective].
The buttonhole is tight.
He buttonholed me to [verb].
He buttonholed me to talk.
The tailor made a [adjective] buttonhole.
The tailor made a neat buttonhole.
There is a [adjective] in the buttonhole.
There is a tear in the buttonhole.
She [verb] the button through the buttonhole.
She pushed the button through the buttonhole.
語族
Nouns
Verbs
Adjectives
関連
How to Use It
5
Formality Scale
よくある間違い
It implies trapping someone, not just chatting.
They are opposites in function.
Some learners think it's irregular.
Buttonholes are specifically for buttons.
The ending is 'hole', not 'holly'.
Tips
Memory Palace
Visualize your shirt buttons.
Native Usage
Use it to describe the hole.
Suit Etiquette
The lapel hole is for flowers.
Regular Noun
Just add 's' for plural.
Clear 'T'
Don't swallow the 't' sound.
Not a Zipper
Distinguish from zippers.
Historical Design
Used since the 1500s.
Contextual Learning
Look at your own clothes.
Compound Words
Note the 'button' + 'hole' structure.
Descriptive Writing
Use it to add detail to fashion descriptions.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
A button goes in the hole, a 'button-hole'.
Visual Association
Imagine a tiny door for a button.
Word Web
チャレンジ
Count the buttonholes on your shirt.
語源
English
Original meaning: A hole for a button
文化的な背景
None
Commonly associated with formal suit etiquette.
Practice in Real Life
Real-World Contexts
Sewing/Tailoring
- buttonhole stitch
- reinforced hole
- sewing machine
Shopping
- check the buttonholes
- quality garment
- well-made
Social Interaction
- buttonhole someone
- forced to listen
- trapped in conversation
Fashion
- lapel buttonhole
- boutonniere
- suit detail
Conversation Starters
"Do you know how to sew a buttonhole?"
"Have you ever been buttonholed by someone?"
"Do you prefer buttons or zippers?"
"What is your favorite type of suit detail?"
"How do you fix frayed clothes?"
Journal Prompts
Describe a time you were buttonholed by someone.
Write about the importance of small details in fashion.
Explain how to fix a buttonhole.
Why do you think buttons are still used today?
よくある質問
8 問It is one word.
No, zippers have tracks.
Use a buttonhole stitch.
Because it holds a button.
The noun is, the verb is less common.
Most button-up shirts do.
A flower worn in the lapel buttonhole.
It is usually written as one word.
自分をテスト
The button goes into the ___.
The buttonhole is the specific slit for a button.
What is a buttonhole?
It is a slit in clothing.
To 'buttonhole' someone means to help them.
It means to stop them and force conversation.
Word
意味
They are parts of a fastening system.
He buttonholed me yesterday.
The tailor used a ___ stitch for the edge.
A buttonhole stitch is the standard term.
Which best describes the figurative use?
It implies forcing someone to listen.
A buttonhole is only found on shirts.
They are on coats, pants, and jackets too.
The intricate buttonhole work was...
The lapel ___ is a vestige of history.
The lapel buttonhole is a specific fashion term.
スコア： /10
Summary
The buttonhole is the essential partner to the button, keeping our clothes secure and our fashion functional.
- A buttonhole is a slit for a button.
- It is a standard sewing term.
- It can also mean to trap someone in conversation.
- It is a countable, regular noun.
Memory Palace
Visualize your shirt buttons.
Native Usage
Use it to describe the hole.
Suit Etiquette
The lapel hole is for flowers.
Regular Noun
Just add 's' for plural.
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