CEFR C1

buttonhole

verb

Meaning

To detain someone in conversation against their will, often by holding them or getting uncomfortably close, in order to talk to them about something specific.

Examples

The persistent salesperson managed to buttonhole me in the aisle for twenty minutes.
She tried to buttonhole her professor after class to discuss her grade, but he quickly excused himself.

Synonyms: detain, waylay, accost, corner

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buttonhole (C1)

verb

Pronunciation: /ˈbʌtnhoʊl/

Definition

To detain someone in conversation against their will, often by holding them or getting uncomfortably close, in order to talk to them about something specific.

Examples

The persistent salesperson managed to buttonhole me in the aisle for twenty minutes.
She tried to buttonhole her professor after class to discuss her grade, but he quickly excused himself.
He was buttonholed by a reporter who wanted an immediate comment on the scandal.

How to Use buttonhole

buttonhole someone about something (prepositional phrase): To stop someone to talk to them specifically about a particular topic. — "He tried to buttonhole his manager about the new project."

Synonyms of buttonhole

Words with a similar meaning to buttonhole:

Antonyms of buttonhole

Words with the opposite meaning to buttonhole:

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