button up

Finish the jacket

Button up means to fasten buttons, closing a garment: Button up your coat, it's cold.

Figuratively, to button up is to complete or secure something: Let's button up this deal before the weekend.

It also means to become silent or secretive: He buttoned up when the police arrived.

A buttoned-up person is reserved, formal, or emotionally restrained.

silence

quiet

Lacking in sound

  • hushAbsence of sound
  • shushCommand for silence
  • mumRefusing to speak

discreet · secretive · tight-lipped · muzzle · gag · censor · suppress · stifle · withhold · clam up

fasten

close

Nearby or to shut

  • secureProtected from harm
  • claspSecuring device that clicks
  • snapSudden sharp sound

hook · zip · latch · seal · cinch · tighten · loop · thread · toggle · press stud

finalize

complete

Lacking nothing, fully done

settle · close · seal · clinch · sign off · tie up · lock down · nail down · firm up · finalize

garment

shirt

Upper body garment

jacket · coat · vest · oxford · flannel · dress shirt · polo · collar · cuff · placket

formal

dressy

Requiring fancy attire

refined · elegant · presentable · proper · smart · crisp · neat · groomed · conservative · professional

Categories
Opposites
fastening action

button upunbutton

Release a fastener

undo · unfasten · unzip · open up · loosen

clothing state

button upunzipped

Opened via slider

unbuttoned · loose · undone · disheveled · casual

EMOTIONAL EXPRESSION (figurative)

button upopen up

Reveal inner thoughts

let it out · speak freely · express oneself · let loose · pour one's heart out

Family

button, buttons, unbutton, buttoned, unbuttoned, buttoning, buttonhole, buttonless, rebutton

Familiarity
Top 50,000
Profile
Known to kids · Used worldwide · Timeless · Concrete · Everyday, not technical · Rated G