stop the presses
An exclamation used to introduce especially new, important, surprising, or recent developments.
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
“Stop the presses, I finally finished my essay.”
“Stop the presses, my brother is actually cleaning his own room today.”
“Stop the presses, the manager just announced that we are all getting a surprise bonus this month.”
“Stop the presses because the quietest student in our class just won the national debate competition.”
“Stop the presses, the weather report says it might actually snow in this desert town tomorrow morning.”
“Stop the presses, for the researchers have unexpectedly discovered a new species in the deepest part of the ocean.”
The term originates from the technical requirements of mid-19th-century newspaper production, where the physical printing process was halted to accommodate late-breaking information. To stop the presses was to interrupt a high-speed mechanical run so that the layout could be altered for an urgent development, a procedure that was both a logistical inconvenience and a commercial necessity for the trade.
- 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