English Word · Advanced
buttonholing
The act of detaining someone in conversation against his or her will
Pronunciation: say buttonholing
Meaning
The act of detaining someone in conversation against their will.
Example
The politician spent the entire afternoon buttonholing voters outside the polling station.
The politician spent the entire afternoon buttonholing voters outside the polling station.
Practice tips
- Practice buttonholing out loud — read the pronunciation guide above and repeat.
- Use it in your own sentence today; reuse beats rereading.
- Pay attention to context: this English word is for advanced-level learners.