Definition
To seemingly age in reverse; to appear younger, either through changes in appearance or one's personality and lifestyle.
Origins
In reference to The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (1922), a short story by F. Scott Fitzgerald about a man who is born old and ages in reverse.
In Context
- "Wouldn't it be nice to have some variety in the whole "we get older the longer we are alive" cliche? For instance, what if we Benjamin Buttoned? That is, wouldn't you want to be born old and with the mind of an infant, then get physically younger as you matured?"
- "You can't deny that both Jennifer Aniston and Jennifer Lopez are Benjamin Buttoning. The actresses look just as good now as they did 10 years ago (click here if you need a reminder!), and they definitely didn't disappoint when it came to their red carpet looks at the PEOPLE Magazine Awards."
- "His eyes were mirthful yet solemn when he told me: "These old bones are still too young to let the fun die! Who said fifty was when life settled? It's only just beginning! We're all just Benjamin Buttoning through life, ya know? We all just crave a little adventure and novelty.""
- "But over the years, she found her beat by Benjamin Buttoning herself, hitting reverse and reexamining the messy, hormonal and overwrought soap operas that we drafted in our pubescent heads."
- "Well, people on TikTok are sharing how they basically "Benjamin Buttoned" over time as they somehow look younger now than they did years ago."
- "Whatever the White House cooks are feeding Biden these days, I'd like a plate of it myself. It's like he's Benjamin-Buttoning all of a sudden."
See Also
- Benjamin Button disease
- agerasia
- Dorian Gray syndrome