Will cut butter when it's hot, phr. (common).—Said of a knife when blunt. An obvious allusion.
Butter and eggs, subs. (common).—Explained by quotations.
1862. Macmillan's Mag., Jan., p. 238. And I can do butter-and-eggs all down the slide. . . . The feat of butter-and-eggs consists in going down the slide on one foot and beating with the heel and toe of the other at short intervals.
Compare the foregoing with the following.
1836. Dickens, Pickwick Papers, II., p. 9. Sam Weller, in particular, was displaying that beautiful feat of fancy sliding which is currently denominated 'knocking at the cobblers' door,' and which is achieved by skimming over the ice on one foot, and occasionally giving a two-penny postman's knock upon it, with the other.
Butter-Bag or Butter-Box, subs. (old).—Opprobrious epithets for a Dutchman. [? In allusion to Holland producing large quantities of butter. Cf., quot., 1811.]
1600. Dekker, Gentle Craft, wks. (1873) I., 21. We have not men enow, but wee must entertaine every butter-box, [m.]
1650. Howell, Familiar Letters. And for the latter strength we may thank our countryman Ward, and Dansker the butterbag Hollander, which may be said to have bin two of the fatallest and most infamoust men that ever Christendom bred.
1811. Lexicon Balatronicum. Butter-box. A Dutchman, from the great quantity of butter eaten by the people of that country.
Butter-Boat. To empty the butter-boat, phr. (common).—To lavish praise; to battle. [From butter-boat, a table utensil employed for serving melted butter.]
1865. Sat. Review, 7 Jan., p. 16, col. 2. That kind of praise which feels like the butter-boat down one's back. [m.]
1866. J. H. Skinner, After Storm, I., 181. He praised some things and gave advice about others, using the butter-boat less freely than is customary at volunteer inspections. [m.]
Butter-Box.—See Butter-bag.
Buttercups, subs. (common).—A graceful pet name for children.
1877. E. L. Linton, World Well Lost, ch. vii. Hilda was still in the schoolroom, and seldom appeared even at afternoon tea; which in general is licensed to include 'buttercups.'
Buttered, ppl. adj. (old).—1. Whipped. Cf., Dusted, Tanned, etc. (q.v.).
2. (common.)—Flattered.—See Butter, sense 1.
Buttered Bun, subs. (old).—A mistress; also a prostitute, especially one who submits to the sexual embrace in quick succession with different men. [In this latter sense, if not in former, from buttered = greased + bun (q.v.), the female pudenda.] For synonyms, see Barrack-hack.
1679. Cullen, W., Flock of Court Misses, in Roxburgh Ballads (1884), V., 126. This is the day . . . that sets our Monarch free From Buttered Buns [i.e., Louise de Quérouaille] and Slavery.
1811. Lexicon Balatronicum. One lying with a woman that has just lain with another man, is said to have a buttered bun.
Butter-Fingered, comp. ppl. adj. (common).—Apt to let things fall; greasy or slippery-fingered. The nickname of butter-fingers is hence given to those who let things slip easily from their grasp.
