press (redirected from pressing)

be hard pressed (British, American & Australian, informal, British)

to be having difficulty doing something, especially because there is not enough time or money. I'll be hard pressed to get this report done by Friday. (usually + to do something) You'd be hard pushed to find a good car for under £1,000. With cuts in government funding, hospitals are hard pressed at the moment.

See also: hard

be hot off the press

news that is hot off the press has just been printed and often contains the most recent information about something. This is the latest news from Bosnia, hot off the press.

See also: hot

a full-court press (American)

a big effort to achieve something. The Mayor has urged a full-court press for civil rights and fair housing in the city.

hit/press/push the panic button

to do something quickly without thinking about it in order to deal with a difficult or worrying situation. We may have lost the last three games but we're not pushing the panic button yet. (often negative)

See also: button, hit, panic, push

press the flesh (mainly American, humorous)

if politicians or famous people press the flesh, they shake hands with the public. Even after 12 hours on the campaign trail, he was still meeting his supporters and pressing the flesh.

See also: flesh

press/push the right button/buttons

to do exactly what is necessary to get the result that you want. You have to know how to push all the right buttons if you want to be a successful diplomat. Sometimes you're interviewing someone really shy and then you press the right button and they just don't stop talking.

See also: button, push, right

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hot off the press

just printed. Steele's latest novel about family and friendship is hot off the press.

See also: hot

press someone into service

to persuade or force someone to do something. Murphy pressed his sister into service to do the research.

See also: service

press something into service

to use something for an unusual purpose. A few buses and trucks were pressed into service, but the vast majority of refugees walked.

See also: service

press your luck

down on your luck

See also: luck

press on

to continue to go forward. We pressed on toward the town even though we were both so tired we could barely walk.

press on (with something)

to continue to do something in a determined way. He said his comments were meant as a joke, but the Miss America Organization pressed on with its lawsuit. The construction firm pressed ahead with plans to build the skyscraper.

press the flesh

to meet and talk with people. He believes he should get out and press the flesh if his campaign is going to succeed.

Etymology: based on the use of press the flesh to mean shake hands (= to take someone's hand in yours as a greeting)

See also: flesh

pressed for time

feeling that you have to hurry and are late. I was pressed for time to finish my business and catch my plane.

See also: time