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What is a Social Butterfly?

Tricia Christensen
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Updated: May 23, 2024
Views: 87,594
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If you’ve ever watched a butterfly in action, you’ll note that they busily work a garden, flitting from flower to flower to glean a little nectar before moving on. The action of the butterfly is beautiful and purposeful, even though such food is necessary for survival. Yet the light passage from standing flowers, and the frequently colorful wings of the insect has inspired the term social butterfly.

It’s challenging to pin down the origin of this term, since etymologists are still arguing over the origin of the word butterfly. It appears that the term, social butterfly, may at first have been used in derogatory fashion to describe young women who dated many different men. They could be contrasted to their opposites, wallflowers, who sat stationary, waiting to be asked on dates, or especially at dances, waiting to be asked to dance.

Gradually, the term became descriptive, and is mostly applied to females, who are extroverted, comfortable in social situations, can talk to just about anyone, and who seem to have a certain grace and ease at parties. Social butterflies in a party setting could move from group to group, briefly sipping in the nectar of each engagement and sharing a few pleasant words with partygoers. Their social adeptness makes it simple for them to be quite at home in large group settings.

Just as the actual butterfly enhances the lives of flowers, the social butterfly tends to be an asset at parties. She or sometimes he can start conversations, praise the looks of the other guests, and keep the party atmosphere more interesting. It would be more difficult to throw a party with no extroverted guests, since most introverted guests need a little encouragement to move about a room, engage in conversation and keep a party lively. A combination of extroverts and introverts tend to balance social engagements more appropriately.

Some people seem to be innately extroverted, and there are now various personality tests which can tell you whether you tend to be more outgoing or less. Generally, you may already know whether you fit social butterfly standards if you’ve had opportunities to take part in social engagements. Do you like to walk about the room talking with various guests, or do you prefer one deep conversation with a kindred spirit? If the answer is yes to the former, you probably are the extroverted social butterfly type.

The term can sometimes be misapplied to people who are obnoxiously social, overbearing, loud, and who make rude comments. They may stomp from guest to guest vociferously voicing their opinions; they don’t flit and they don’t have a light touch and innate social grace. These are not true social butterflies because they detract from a social scene rather than enhance it.

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Tricia Christensen
By Tricia Christensen
With a Literature degree from Sonoma State University and years of experience as a PublicPeople contributor, Tricia Christensen is based in Northern California and brings a wealth of knowledge and passion to her writing. Her wide-ranging interests include reading, writing, medicine, art, film, history, politics, ethics, and religion, all of which she incorporates into her informative articles. Tricia is currently working on her first novel.
Discussion Comments
By giddion — On Feb 19, 2013

I think it takes a social butterfly to throw a good party. You can have all the right decorations, music, and food, but unless you know how to socialize, your party could fall flat.

My sister is a social butterfly, and she has a party every couple of months. She keeps everyone entertained and goes around from group to group, making sure that everyone is having a good time.

By lighth0se33 — On Feb 19, 2013

There were clearly defined groups of people in high school, like the nerds, the dorks, and the popular kids. However, there was one girl who didn't fit into any group, and she was a social butterfly.

She would spend a few moments with just about every group each day. None of them shunned her, and they could all relate to her.

It's rare to find a person like this in high school, when everyone is so steeped in their own insecurities that they often fail to branch out from their group. Somehow, she rose above it and befriended nearly everyone.

By cloudel — On Feb 18, 2013

@shell4life – Your social butterfly friends probably appreciate your loyalty and ability to listen. It can be hard for two social butterflies to be best friends, because they are always flitting about and getting distracted.

By shell4life — On Feb 18, 2013

I think it's safe to say that no one has ever used this term to describe me. I'm very shy and tend to get lost in the background at social events. In fact, sometimes I think I'm invisible!

It's weird that some of my best friends are social butterflies. I would think that they would want to befriend other butterflies, but instead, they chose me.

By GreenWeaver — On Aug 06, 2010

My sister is like that. In fact in high school she was voted most popular and was captain of the varsity cheerleading squad.

She also excelled in business because of her strong work ethic as well as her naturally outgoing demeanor. She is now a vice president of a major cosmetic company. The combination of hard work and extroverted personality helped her achieve success.

By cupcake15 — On Aug 06, 2010

Cafe41-I think social butterfly events that like weddings and office parties make the outgoing people shine.

Many times these people make a party more enjoyable because they engage everyone and by having conversations.

They often also display eye contact and positive facial expressions to add to their upbeat demeanor. These people electrify a room and most people want to be around them. A social buttery wedding should be a lively event. A social butterfly synonym is fun-loving and outgoing.

By cafe41 — On Aug 06, 2010

Subway11- I believe the best field for social butterflies is in sales. Since these types of people have the gift of gab, they make connections with people easily which makes a sales career very lucrative.

They have no problems networking or getting prospects interested in their products or services because of their engaging personalities.

By subway11 — On Aug 06, 2010

Anon32998- I agree that networking online is easier than networking in person. I wanted to add that as a synonym for social butterfly is outgoing. A person who is outgoing is said to have a vibrant personality and enjoy interacting with people.

These people excel in social situations that require interactions with many people. Hosting a party for such a person is really natural. They make their guest feel welcomed and engage in conversations with everyone.

By anon32998 — On May 30, 2009

There are also social networking butterflies like me. It's a lot easier to network socially on the Internet than other places.

Tricia Christensen
Tricia Christensen
With a Literature degree from Sonoma State University and years of experience as a PublicPeople contributor, Tricia...
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