button-down
[ buht-n-doun ]
/ ˈbʌt nˌdaʊn /
adjective
(of a shirt collar) having buttonholes so it can be buttoned to the body of the shirt.
(of a shirt) having a button-down collar.
(of a shirt) having buttons down the front from the collar to the bottom.
Also buttoned-down.
(especially of attitudes, opinions, etc.) extremely conventional; unimaginative.
Origin of button-down
An Americanism dating back to 1930–35
Words nearby button-down
button quail,
button snakeroot,
button suture,
button tow,
button up,
button-down,
button-through,
buttonball,
buttonbush,
buttoned-up,
buttonhole
Example sentences from the Web for button-down
She often dressed casually in button-down shirts, sweaters, and skinny jeans.
They are neither formal nor distant, the button-down shirts open at the collar signaling vulnerability rather than posturing.
Mitt will give a pitch-perfect, button-down speech accepting the GOP nomination Thursday night.
What If Mitt Romney Said What He Really Thought Thursday Night |Matt Latimer |August 30, 2012 |DAILY BEAST
British Dictionary definitions for button-down
button-down
adjective
(of a collar) having points that are fastened to the garment with buttons
(of a shirt) having a button-down collar
Also: buttoned-down
conventional or conservative
a button-down corporate culture