To unfasten or open buttons on clothing or other items. To become less formal, reserved, or inhibited in behavior or manner.
Formed by adding the prefix un- (indicating reversal) to 'button,' which comes from Old French boton meaning 'a knob' or 'bud.' The metaphorical sense of becoming less reserved developed in the 19th century, parallel to 'buttoned-up' meaning formal or restrained.
The phrase 'to unbutton' someone metaphorically means to make them relax and open up, reflecting how the physical act of unbuttoning suggests informality and comfort. Interestingly, buttons were once luxury items - before mass production, most people used ties, laces, or pins, making buttoned clothing a sign of wealth.
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