Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

button one's lip

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 3.85 in modern English

Syllables: but-ton one's lip
IPA

17

Scrabble Score

13

Letters

2

Syllables

10

Unique Chars

Meaning

verb

To remain silent, especially in order to keep a secret or to avoid saying something inappropriate.

Example Sentences

""Yes," put in Solomon. "I've been tipped off to this guy Mars, and you'd better tell him to button up his lip and not start anything.""
""We advised John not to talk, to button his lip, but he talked anyway.""
"Busch wisely buttoned his lip and didn't say anything else."

Inflected Forms

buttons one's lip (present, singular) buttoning one's lip (participle, present) buttoned one's lip (participle, past) buttoned one's lip (past) button up one's lip (alternative)

Phrases

button it

Frequently Paired Words

button it

Synonyms

bite one's lip zip one's lip

Questions

What does button one's lip mean?: To remain silent, especially in order to keep a secret or to avoid saying something inappropriate.

How to pronounce button one's lip

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