buttonpolishing
nounUK /ˈbʌtənˌpɒlɪʃɪŋ/
US /ˈbʌtənˌpɑːlɪʃɪŋ/
The act of rubbing buttons until they are shiny and clean.
He spent the afternoon buttonpolishing his grandfather's old coat.
OTHER MEANINGS
2. The careful finishing and tidying of small details in a piece of work.
The editor's buttonpolishing made the report read smoothly.
3. The practice of making military uniforms look neat and smart.
Inspection day meant hours of buttonpolishing for the recruits.
4. A humorous term for fussing over tiny, unimportant tasks.
Stop buttonpolishing and finish the main job first.