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[busy work]{n.} Work that is done not to do or finish anything important, but just to keep busy. •/When the teacher finished all she had to say it was still a half hour before school was over. So she gave the class a test for busy work./

[but for] See: EXCEPT FOR.

[but good]{adv. phr.}, {informal} Very much so; thoroughly completely; forcefully. — Used for emphasis. •/Jack called Charles a bad name, and Charles hit him, but good./ •/Tom fell and broke his leg. That taught him but good not to fool around in high trees./ Compare: AND HOW.

[but not least] See: LAST BUT NOT LEAST.

[butter] See: BREAD AND BUTTER.

[butterflies in one’s stomach]{n. phr.} A queer feeling in the stomach caused by nervous fear or uncertainty; a feeling of fear or anxiety in the stomach. •/When Bob walked into the factory office to ask for a job, he had butterflies in his stomach./

[butter up]{v.}, {informal} To try to get the favor or friendship of (a person) by flattery or pleasantness. •/He began to butter up the boss in hope of being given a better job./ Compare: POLISH THE APPLE.

[butter wouldn’t melt in one’s mouth]{informal} You act very polite and friendly but do not really care, you are very nice to people but are not sincere. •/The new secretary was rude to the other workers, but when she talked to the boss, butter wouldn’t melt in her mouth./

[butt in]{v.}, {slang} To join in with what other people are doing without asking or being asked; interfere in other people’s business; meddle. •/Mary was explaining to Jane how to knit a sweater when Barbara butted in./ Often used with "on". •/John butted in on Bill and Tom’s fight, and got hurt./ Compare: HORN IN.

[button] See: HAVE ALL ONE’S BUTTONS, ON THE BUTTON, PUSH THE PANIC BUTTON.

[button down]{v.}, {slang} (stress on "down") To state precisely, to ascertain, to pin down, to peg down. •/First let’s get the facts buttoned down, then we can plan ahead./

[button-down]{attrib. adj.}, {slang} (stress on "button") Well-groomed, conservatively dressed. •/Joe is a regular button-down type./

[buttonhole]{v.} To approach a person in order to speak with him or her in private. •/After waiting for several hours, Sam managed to buttonhole his boss just as she was about to leave the building./

[button one’s lip] also [zip one’s lip]{v. phr.}, {slang} To stop talking; keep a secret; shut your mouth; be quiet. •/The man was getting loud and insulting and the cop told him to button his lip./ •/John wanted to talk, but Dan told him to keep his lip buttoned./ Syn.: KEEP ONE’S MOUTH SHUT, SHUT UP.

[buy for a song]{v. phr.} To buy something very cheaply. •/Since the building on the corner was old and neglected, I was able to buy it for a song./

[buy off]{v.} To turn from duty or purpose by a gift. •/When the police threatened to stop the gambling business, the owner bought them off./ •/The Indians were going to burn the cabins, but the men bought them off with gifts./ Compare: PAY OFF.

[buy out]{v.} 1. To buy the ownership or a share of; purchase the stock of. •/He bought out several small stockholders. 2. To buy all the goods of; purchase the merchandise of./ •/Mr. Harper bought out a nearby hardware store./ Contrast: SELL OUT.

[buy up]{v. phr.} To purchase the entire stock of something. •/The company is trying to buy up all the available shares./

[buzz] See: GIVE A RING also GIVE A BUZZ.

[buzz word]{n.} A word that sounds big and important in a sentence but, on closer inspection, means little except the speaker’s indication to belong to a certain group. •/The politician’s speech was nothing but a lot of misleading statements and phony promises hidden in a bunch of buzz words./

[by] See: TOO --- BY HALF.

[by a hair] See: HANG BY A THREAD or HANG BY A HAIR

[by] or [in my book]{adv. phr.} In my opinion; as far as I am concerned; in my judgment. •/By my book, Mr. Murgatroyd is not a very good department head./

[by all means] also [by all manner of means]{adv. phr.} Certainly, without fail. •/He felt that he should by all means warn Jones./ Contrast: BY NO MEANS.

[by all odds]{adv. phr.} Without question; certainly. •/He was by all odds the strongest candidate./ •/By all odds we should win the game, because the other team is so weak./ Compare: FAR AND AWAY.

[by a long shot]{adv. phr.}, {informal} By a big difference; by far. — Used to add emphasis. •/Bert was the best swimmer in the race, by a long shot./ Often used with a negative. •/Tom isn’t the kind who would be fresh to a teacher, by a long shot./ •/Our team didn’t win — not by a long shot./ Compare: MISS BY A MILE.

[by a mile] See: MISS BY A MILE.

[by and by]{adv.} After a while; at some time in the future; later. •/Roger said he would do his homework by and by./ •/The mother knew her baby would be a man by and by and do a man’s work./ Syn.: AFTER A WHILE.

[by and large]{adv. phr.} As it most often happens; more often than not; usually; mostly. •/There were bad days, but it was a pleasant summer, by and large./ •/By and large, women can bear pain better than men./ Syn.: FOR THE MOST PART, ON THE WHOLE(2).