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Blue Buttons

English translation: buttons that are blue

10:40 Apr 12, 2020
English language (monolingual) [PRO]
Art/Literary - Poetry & Literature / Novel
English term or phrase: Blue Buttons
It's taken from a novel "Eyes to See." Couldn't find any clue online, and I was hoping you can help me with the intended meaning.

"But you daren't say - you can't say - that he's cleverer than I, or bolder than I, or even more energetic. He's not clever, he's got eyes like blue buttons; he's not energetic, he moves from chair to chair like a paralytic."

Thanks all .. and stay safe :)
Samir Sami
Qatar
Local time: 14:39
Selected answer:buttons that are blue
Explanation:
I think this is really all the author is trying to say here - the character's eyes are like blue buttons, i.e. buttons that are blue-coloured.

Possibly he's trying to emphasise their brightness, the fact they stand out strikingly on his face, like buttons on a garment (and thereby underscoring his inquisitiveness!) - but that would lie in the realm of interpretation, rather than linguistics :)

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Note added at 27 mins (2020-04-12 11:07:09 GMT)
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Interestingly, my initial reaction to the phrase was the same as Yvonne's below (or above!) in terms of brightness and shininess (possibly influenced by the phrase "bright as a button") - but on second reading, I lean towards Tony's reading - blank eyes that are almost "sewn on" to his face.

Selected response from:

Jennifer Caisley
United Kingdom
Local time: 12:39
Grading comment
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



SUMMARY OF ALL EXPLANATIONS PROVIDED
3 +5buttons that are blue
Jennifer Caisley
4 +1round wide open eyes (like blue buttons)
Yvonne Gallagher
3 +2eyes with a blank stare
Leora Kamornick


Discussion entries: 1





  

Answers


12 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +1
blue buttons
round wide open eyes (like blue buttons)


Explanation:
figurative meaning

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Note added at 14 mins (2020-04-12 10:54:57 GMT)
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That's how I'd interpret it. Round, open, shiny, eyes. In other words, alert and wide awkae...

I just had a look and found this related discusssion

https://forum.wordreference.com/threads/button-eyes.588163/


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Note added at 18 mins (2020-04-12 10:58:36 GMT)
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button eyes should also be seen as like the eyes on soft toys or dolls. They glitter but are not really alive so in a person, eyes like that can hide real feelings. Like a mask in some ways.
See here

https://www.gradesaver.com/coraline/study-guide/symbols-alle...
a

Yvonne Gallagher
Ireland
Local time: 12:39
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 317
Notes to answerer
Asker: Thanks a lot for your time. Appreciate your help


Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Lingua 5B
23 hrs
  -> Thanks!
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

8 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +5
buttons that are blue


Explanation:
I think this is really all the author is trying to say here - the character's eyes are like blue buttons, i.e. buttons that are blue-coloured.

Possibly he's trying to emphasise their brightness, the fact they stand out strikingly on his face, like buttons on a garment (and thereby underscoring his inquisitiveness!) - but that would lie in the realm of interpretation, rather than linguistics :)

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 27 mins (2020-04-12 11:07:09 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Interestingly, my initial reaction to the phrase was the same as Yvonne's below (or above!) in terms of brightness and shininess (possibly influenced by the phrase "bright as a button") - but on second reading, I lean towards Tony's reading - blank eyes that are almost "sewn on" to his face.



Example sentence(s):
  • A small disc or knob sewn on to a garment, either to fasten it by being pushed through a slit made for the purpose or for decoration.

    https://www.lexico.com/definition/button
Jennifer Caisley
United Kingdom
Local time: 12:39
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 8
Notes to answerer
Asker: Thanks a lot.


Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Tony M: I think actually it means he has blue eyes, but they are vacant, they don't sparkle, just like the dull buttons sew on to stuffed toys. "The lights are on but there's no-one home" etc.
1 min
  -> Thanks, Tony - and you're absolutely spot on! (Amended to reflect your insight!)
agree  Rui Pedro: blue eyes just like mundane blue buttons
32 mins
  -> Thank you!
agree  José Patrício: https://hu.pinterest.com/catycast/button-eyes/
1 hr
  -> Thank you, Jose - and an interesting link, too!
agree  AllegroTrans
5 hrs
  -> Thank you!
agree  Lingua 5B
23 hrs
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

8 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +2
blue buttons
eyes with a blank stare


Explanation:
Perhaps it means the eyes appear to be blind, like blue buttons, that don't see. especially since it says that he moves like a paralytic.

Leora Kamornick
Israel
Local time: 14:39
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 1
Notes to answerer
Asker: Thanks a lot. I liked your explanation, but I'd rather go for a literal translation instead.


Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Murilo Coelho: i'd also go with this interpretation, specially taking the rest of the dialogue into account. the character is literally saying that his eyes are dull like doll's eyes.
5 hrs
agree  Lingua 5B
15 hrs
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