noun
Common
buttons
BUHT-uhnz
Buttons (noun) means informal British slang for a police officer. Example: “Quick, hide the drinks, the buttons are coming down the road!”
noun
1
Informal British slang for a police officer.
"Quick, hide the drinks, the buttons are coming down the road!"
"A couple of buttons stopped us to ask about the broken light."
"The buttons showed up just as the fight broke out."
2
Informal term for a remote control.
"Who has the buttons? The film is about to start."
"I've lost the buttons again, probably down the back of the sofa."
"Pass me the buttons, I want to change the channel."
How to use buttons
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishPlural of button, but also old-fashioned slang for a policeman or a TV remote.
When to use it
These slang senses are dated and mostly informal British usage.
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Frequently asked questions
What does “buttons” mean?
The word “buttons” means informal British slang for a police officer. In plain terms, plural of button, but also old-fashioned slang for a policeman or a TV remote.
How do you pronounce “buttons”?
“Buttons” is pronounced BUHT-uhnz (/ˈbʌt.ənz/ in IPA).
How do you use “buttons” in a sentence?
Here is “buttons” used in a sentence: “The buttons showed up just as the fight broke out.”
What part of speech is “buttons”?
“Buttons” is a noun.
Is “buttons” a common word?
“Buttons” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “buttons” have?
“Buttons” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: informal British slang for a police officer.
Is buttons really used as slang for a police officer?
Yes — buttons is informal British slang for a police officer. It is far less common than everyday informal terms such as copper or bobby, and it is strictly casual in register.
Can buttons mean the remote control?
Yes. In informal speech, the buttons can refer to a television remote control, as in 'pass me the buttons.' It sits alongside other casual household names for the remote, such as the clicker and the zapper.
Is buttons singular or plural in these slang senses?
Although buttons ends in -s, each slang sense names a single thing: one police officer or one remote control. The plural shape of the word does not signal more than one item.
What is the difference between button and buttons?
The singular button is the ordinary word for a clothes fastener or a control you press. Buttons, treated as a word in its own right, carries separate informal meanings: British slang for a police officer and a casual name for a remote control.
