0
Newguest Posted 17 years ago
Vocabulary

Harsh/button down

Hi

Someone says: I started to see two Americas, the mythic America and the real America. It was an age of greed, Wall Street, button down, win, win, win, no time for losers. New York was bankrupt. There was a harsh reality to America as well as the dream.

--- Does "button down" mean something like "conservatism"?

---- Does the last part of the sentence say that both American reality and its dream were harsh?
  

Top answer

, "the button-down mind"). Now it seems like it was only a fad. It was part of an image, like "the man in the grey flannel suit" - the success-oriented urban conformist.

— Avangi

  • , "the button-down mind").
  • Now it seems like it was only a fad.
  • It was part of an image, like "the man in the grey flannel suit" - the success-oriented urban conformist.
  • " I'm not sure.
  • " I'll admit it's ambiguous.
Free · every Monday

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.

12 Answers
0
When they invented button-down collars, the term was applied to a lot of things (e.g., "the button-down mind"). Now it seems like it was only a fad. It was part of an image, like "the man in the grey flannel suit" - the success-oriented urban conformist. You may be right about "conservatism." I'm not sure.

I think you're wrong about "the dream." I'll admit it's ambiguous. If I
0
0
OK, Avangi. That was helpful !!
0
0
Newguestthe mythic America and the real America.
The dream is the mythic part.

There was a harsh reality to America.
And there was also the dream.

There was a harsh reality to America, not just the dream.

CJ
0
0
It strikes me that the phrase used may have been "buckle down," which means to work hard and single-mindedly. Could that be the case?
0
0
Delmobile It strikes me that the phrase used may have been "buckle down," which means to work hard and single-mindedly. Could that be the case?

I wouldn't bet on it in a million years. button-down sounds perfect to me in connection with Wall Street.

CJ
0
0

Looks like you were right, CJ. But I would like to point out that we are discussing a Bono quote.

0
0
I see your point, Del. I couldn't fit "button-down" into that sentence (not even "conservatism," as Newguest suggested.) But I can't see him making that kind of a mistake. How about "batten down the hatches"? Could "button-down" have a regional meaning?

I'll admit "buckle down" fits the "win - win - win" thing, as in "Buckle down, Winsocki, buckle down. You can win, Winsocki if you
0
0
AvangiI see your point, Del. I couldn't fit "button-down" into that sentence (not even "conservatism," as Newguest suggested.) But I can't see him making that kind of a mistake. How about "batten down the hatches"? Could "button-down" have a regional meaning?

I'll admit "buckle down" fits the "win - win - win" thing, as in "Buckle down, Winsocki, buckle down.
0
0
I'm sorry, Newguest, I honestly can't say for sure why he chose "button-down." Several possibilities come to mind. Perhaps if I had spent a few hours reading his book, I'd have a better idea of how he thinks. It doesn't seem like his editors would let him make a careless mistake.

I understood that he and Bill Clinton (Rhodes Scholar) made a lengthy world tour together, promoting cer
0
0
Thank you very much for all the answers guys! It sounds clearer now Emotion: smile
0

Related Questions