# When did saying "presser" become current? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 25, 2017, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-saying-presser-become-current/783017 "2017-03-25T18:27:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![levdrakon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@levdrakon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/levdrakon)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2017, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-saying-presser-become-current/783017/1 "2017-03-25T18:27:34Z")
I’ve noticed it a lot lately. “During his presser, Paul Ryan said…” Has that been a thing for very long? ---
**Author:** ![Channing\_Idaho\_Banks](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/channing_idaho_banks/32/250_2.png) [@Channing\_Idaho\_Banks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Channing_Idaho_Banks)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2017, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-saying-presser-become-current/783017/2 "2017-03-25T19:12:01Z")
Sounds like a British-ism, to me. ---
**Author:** ![Mr\_Shine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mr_shine/32/464_2.png) [@Mr\_Shine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr_Shine)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2017, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-saying-presser-become-current/783017/3 "2017-03-25T19:15:31Z")
> [@Channing\_Idaho\_Banks](#): > > Sounds like a British-ism, to me. Nope, never heard it. ---
**Author:** ![steatopygia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steatopygia/32/3132_2.png) [@steatopygia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/steatopygia)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2017, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-saying-presser-become-current/783017/4 "2017-03-25T19:22:38Z")
Press_ **o** _r has been around in medicine for years. It refers to a group of drugs that raises your blood pressure. ---
**Author:** ![VOW](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/vow/32/3043_2.png) [@VOW](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VOW)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2017, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-saying-presser-become-current/783017/5 "2017-03-25T20:41:31Z")
The definition of “presser” being a press conference was posted on Urban Dictionary in 2008. Dunno if that helps any. ~VOW ---
**Author:** ![bob\_2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bob_2/32/3341_2.png) [@bob\_2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bob_2)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2017, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-saying-presser-become-current/783017/6 "2017-03-25T22:54:51Z")
Never heard it here. Google that phrase and it only links to this thread. ---
**Author:** ![yearofglad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/b782af/32.png) [@yearofglad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yearofglad)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2017, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-saying-presser-become-current/783017/7 "2017-03-25T22:59:40Z")
I’m an American and have heard it plenty to refer to press conferences. The term isn’t unfamiliar. I’m unable to contribute to the term’s history - I’m just saying you aren’t crazy. ---
**Author:** ![levdrakon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@levdrakon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/levdrakon)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2017, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-saying-presser-become-current/783017/8 "2017-03-25T23:12:39Z")
> [@bob\_2](#): > > Never heard it here. > > Google that phrase and it only links to this thread. Did you try news? I was on the google news page and searched it, and there are lots of entries. [![](https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/249265066-5.jpg) ](https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/249265066-5.jpg) > **[The Nunes presser unveils the Washington divide](https://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2017/03/the_nunes_presser_unveils_the_washington_divide.html)** > > Representative Devin Nunes, the chair of the House Intelligence Committee, publicly announced that he had read several intelligence documents that unmask several people related to the Trump transition team.  After briefing Speaker Ryan, he went... > **[Presser on Destruction and Trafficking of Cultural Heritage by Terrorist...](https://europanewswire.com/presser-on-destruction-and-trafficking-of-cultural-heritage-by-terrorist-groupsamp/)** > > Security Council unanimously adopted resolution 2347 condemning the unlawful destruction of cultural heritage by terrorist group > **[The House Republican health care bill vote: expected time and how to watch](https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2017/3/24/15050406/american-healthcare-act-vote-time-house-bill-livestream)** > > President Trump demanded that a vote take place Friday. ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2017, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-saying-presser-become-current/783017/9 "2017-03-25T23:20:51Z")
All I can say is that I’ve heard the term for quite a few years. Not sure when it started though. ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2017, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-saying-presser-become-current/783017/10 "2017-03-25T23:39:02Z")
> [@Ravenman](#): > > All I can say is that I’ve heard the term for quite a few years. Not sure when it started though. I wonder if it is a news industry term that has moved from media jargon into the mainstream because journos online (twitter, basically) often use their own terms, and it’s now used in the published stuff? ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2017, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-saying-presser-become-current/783017/11 "2017-03-26T00:23:49Z")
I consume a decent amount of mainstream news and publications. And precisely zero tweets or Facebook. The term it totally new to me as of this thread. I’m going to bet that **Baron Greenback** nailed it. Insider jargon getting popularized via social media. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2017, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-saying-presser-become-current/783017/12 "2017-03-26T00:27:17Z")
It’s news industry jargon. Like a lot of jargon, the internet has made it more visible. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2017, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-saying-presser-become-current/783017/13 "2017-03-26T00:32:43Z")
A similar term in the industry is “breaker” for “breaking news item.” ---
**Author:** ![levdrakon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@levdrakon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/levdrakon)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2017, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-saying-presser-become-current/783017/14 "2017-03-26T00:34:45Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > I consume a decent amount of mainstream news and publications. And precisely zero tweets or Facebook. > > The term it totally new to me as of this thread. I’m going to bet that **Baron Greenback** nailed it. Insider jargon getting popularized via social media. But none of the news headlines I linked are social media. News articles get posted to social media, but that’s not where I’ve been seeing it the most. It’s been appearing in regular news media headlines. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2017, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-saying-presser-become-current/783017/15 "2017-03-26T00:38:30Z")
> [@levdrakon](#): > > But none of the news headlines I linked are social media. News articles get posted to social media, but that’s not where I’ve been seeing it the most. It’s been appearing in regular news media headlines. You’re seeing it after the press has decided to stop treating as insider jargon. The cycle is already complete.