stop press: Idiom Meaning and Origin
What does ‘stop press’ mean?
The idiom "stop press" refers to a situation where the printing of a newspaper or magazine is momentarily halted to include late-breaking news or updates.
Idiom Explorer
The idiom "yellow press" refers to journalism that is sensationalist and biased, often relying on exaggerated or fabricated stories to attract readership. It originated from the use of yellow ink in the headlines of such newspapers in the late 19th century.
The idiom "take time out" means to pause or suspend activities, often to rest or relax, before continuing with them later.
The idiom "take a breather" means to stop what you are doing and take a short break to rest or relax.
The idiom "stop the lights" is an Irish slang phrase used to express surprise or astonishment. It is often used in a humorous or exaggerated way to emphasize a reaction or to convey disbelief.
"Stop the bleeding" is an idiom that means to take immediate action to prevent further losses or damages, especially in a financial or organizational context.
The idiom "stop someone in their tracks" means to halt or interrupt someone suddenly, causing them to pause or cease their current action or thought. This expression implies a strong, unexpected impact or surprise that prevents further progress or movement.
The idiom "stop dead" means to suddenly and completely stop moving or doing something, often due to shock, surprise, or fear.
The idiom "stop at nothing" means to be willing to do whatever it takes, without any boundaries or limits, to achieve a goal or desired outcome.
The idiom "stem the tide" means to stop or slow down the flow or progress of something, often a negative or undesirable situation.
Surprising Origins
The idiom "stop press" is commonly associated with the newspaper industry, particularly with breaking news. It conveys the idea of something being urgent, unexpected, or of significant importance. The phrase is often used to emphasize the immediacy and significance of new information.
This idiom is related to the physical process of printing newspapers using the traditional letterpress method. In the early days of newspaper production, breaking news stories would occasionally emerge after the initial printing had begun. To quickly incorporate these important updates, the printing process would be momentarily paused, and the new information would be added to the pages still on the press. The phrase "stop press" would appear at the top of the updated pages, alerting readers to the freshly printed content. This shows the urgency and importance of the added information.
Another interpretation of "stop press" comes from the era when telegraph messages were extensively used to transmit news from distant locations. In cases where a particularly significant message or news report arrived after the newspaper had already gone into production, the printing process would be interrupted again. The breaking news would be telegraphed directly to the printing office, resulting in a "stop press" situation. This highlights the importance and immediacy of the information to readers.
While the exact origins of the idiom are not definitively known, "stop press" has become a common expression used in journalistic circles. It conveys a sense of urgency and importance, indicating that the information being presented is time-sensitive and requires immediate attention. This idiom is not limited to the newspaper industry and can now be found in various contexts where the need for immediate dissemination of urgent news is crucial.
The idiom "stop the presses" is a synonymous expression to "stop press." It signifies the urgent halt of the printing process to incorporate breaking news or important updates. The phrase is a call to action, emphasizing the need for immediate attention and highlighting the significance of the information being added. "Stop the presses" has the same connotation of urgency and importance as "stop press."
"hot off the presses" is another related idiom that emphasizes the fresh and immediate nature of printed news. It refers to newly printed newspapers or publications that have just come off the press. The phrase conveys the idea of something being hot, or freshly produced and ready for immediate consumption. "Hot off the presses" captures the sense of urgency and timeliness associated with breaking news and emphasizes that the information is new and up-to-date.
The idiom "stop press" and its related idioms "stop the presses" and "hot off the presses" all convey the urgency and importance of breaking news or significant updates. They signify the need for immediate attention and highlight the fresh and timely nature of the information being presented. These expressions have their origins in the traditional printing process and the transmission of telegraph messages but have expanded beyond the newspaper industry to become widely used phrases in various contexts where the dissemination of urgent news or updates is crucial.
Example usage
Examples of the idiom *stop press*:
- Stop press! The breaking news just came in.
- I received a stop press update that the event has been postponed.
- The newspaper had to add a stop press notice to correct an error in the article.
The phrase *stop press* is often used to indicate urgent breaking news or updates that need to be immediately included or corrected in a publication.
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