Apr 12, 2020 10:40
4 yrs ago
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English term
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Native in: Arabic
Works in: Arabic to English, English to Arabic, French to Arabic
Blue Buttons
English
Art/Literary
Poetry & Literature
Novel
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 :)
"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 :)
Responses
+5
8 mins
Jennifer Caisley
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
Native in English
&
English
United Kingdom
Flawless translations of corporate texts
Native in: English (Variant: UK) 
Works in: German to English, English
Related KudoZ points
:
8
Selected
buttons that are blue
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.
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.
Example sentence:
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.
Reference:
Note from asker:
| Thanks a lot. |
Peer comment(s):
| 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
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Thanks, Tony - and you're absolutely spot on! (Amended to reflect your insight!)
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| agree |
Rui Pedro
: blue eyes just like mundane blue buttons
32 mins
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Thank you!
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| agree |
José Patrício
: https://hu.pinterest.com/catycast/button-eyes/
1 hr
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Thank you, Jose - and an interesting link, too!
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| agree |
AllegroTrans
5 hrs
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Thank you!
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| agree |
Lingua 5B
23 hrs
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4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
+1
12 mins
Yvonne Gallagher
Ireland
Ireland
Native in English
&
English
Specializes in field
Ireland
right word, right place. everytime
Native in: English (Variants: US, Canadian, Irish, UK)
Works in: French to English, Spanish to English, English, and 1 more.
Related KudoZ points
:
317
round wide open eyes (like blue buttons)
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
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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)
--------------------------------------------------
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
Note from asker:
| Thanks a lot for your time. Appreciate your help |
+2
8 hrs
Leora Kamornick
Israel
Israel
Native in English
&
English
Israel
I'm happy to translate for you!
Native in: English 
Works in: Hebrew to English, English
Related KudoZ points
:
1
eyes with a blank stare
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.
Note from asker:
| Thanks a lot. I liked your explanation, but I'd rather go for a literal translation instead. |
Peer comment(s):
| 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
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| agree |
Lingua 5B
15 hrs
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