stop press
Used to grab attention, implying importance, news-worthiness, etc.
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
“Stop press, I have some big news to share with you.”
“Stop press, the store is giving away free coffee today.”
“Stop press, I found my lost keys in the garden.”
“Stop press, the company just announced that everyone gets an extra week of vacation this year.”
“Stop press, the lead singer just walked into the restaurant where we are having dinner right now.”
“Stop press, my sister just called to say she is finally moving back to our hometown next month.”
“Stop press, the local council decided at the last minute to cancel the construction of the new highway that everyone was worried about.”
“Stop press, the long-awaited results of the investigation have finally been released, revealing a significant shift in the organization's policy.”
Derived from the American newspaper-printing jargon to stop the presses, an instruction issued to halt a printing run in order to include late-breaking news. The shortening to stop press entered English usage to denote such items or the physical space on a page reserved for their inclusion.
- 01
a short drop and a sudden stop
A fall to one's death by hanging.
- 02
couldn't stop a pig in a passage
To be bow-legged.
- 03
face that would stop a clock
A shockingly unattractive face.
- 04
hot off the presses
Freshly printed, minted, written, or created.
- 05
press into service
To make someone perform a task or duty, especially one they are not prepared or willing to do; to make something serve a function, especially one it was not designed or intended for.
- 06
press on
To persist, to continue to advance.
- 07
press the flesh
To shake hands and socialize, especially in a political gathering.
- 08
press the panic button
To start to panic.
Last updated August 10, 2026