[Luc]

> my fiancé (who is not a computer geek) interjects with "buttons!"

I was wondering where this expression, 'so buttons', comes from? I think I'm missing something and Google is not helping.

I thought it might be how you pronounce 'sew buttons' but isn't that supposed to be pronounced like 'Sue'?

[dima55]

sew

[Luc]

Ah, US pronunciation.

http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/sew

[drivers99]

I don't think either the UK or US version of sew sound like sue. Audio clips and IPA available at these links:

sew:

http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/sew

UK /səʊ/ US /soʊ/

so:

http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/so

UK /səʊ/ US /soʊ/

sue:

http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/sue

/suː/

"So" and "sew" are homophones in both UK and US English.

[Luc]

Thanks! So I've just been pronouncing it wrong the past 30 years. Eurotrash English :)