Meaning & use
button fly
Last updated
Meaning
nouncountable
A front opening on trousers or jeans that fastens with a row of buttons instead of a zipper.
Grammar: Countable: you can say 'a button fly' or 'two button flies'.
Patterns
- a pair of trousers with a button fly
- button-fly jeans
He prefers jeans with a button fly because they feel more old-fashioned.
The button fly on these trousers is hard to fasten quickly.
She bought a pair of button-fly jeans at the vintage shop.
Word forms
| plural | button flies |
|---|
Common combinations
- button-fly jeans
- He wore button-fly jeans and a plain T-shirt.
- a button fly on trousers
- The button fly on these trousers keeps coming undone.
- fasten a button fly
- It takes longer to fasten a button fly than a zipper.
- button-fly trousers
- Button-fly trousers are popular among people who like vintage style.
Synonyms and how they differ
- fly
- The general word for the opening on trousers; it can be a zipper or buttons, while 'button fly' specifies the button type.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: button fly or butterfly?
button fly vs butterfly
A 'butterfly' is an insect with large wings; 'button fly' is a clothing fastening. They sound similar but are completely different.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'button fly' correctly?
Choose one answer.
'Button fly' refers to a trouser fastening with buttons, so it fits with 'jeans'. 'Butterfly' (option An and D) is an insect, and a dress (option B) does not have a fly.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “button fly”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.