press, v. — Green’s Dictionary of Slang

press v.

(UK black/gang) to provoke conflict, to threaten.

2018-20

T. Thorne (ed.) ‘Drill Slang Glossary’ at Forensic Linguistic Databank 🌐 Pressing - initiating conflict, pressuring, threatening.

SE in slang uses

In phrases

press blankets (v.)

see beat the sheets under beat v.

press ham (v.)

see under ham n.¹

press one’s hair (v.)

(US black) to straighten one’s hair.

1980

E. Folb Runnin’ Down Some Lines 241: hair, conk/fry/gas/press (one’s) Straighten one’s hair.

press someone’s button(s) (v.)

see under button n.¹

press the bricks (v.)

see under bricks n.

press the button (v.)

see under button n.¹

press the ether (v.)

(US black) to play music.

1953

L. Durst Jives of Dr. Hepcat (1989) 5: Just as soon as the canary pulls her number, the combo breaks out like the measles and presses much ether.

press the flesh (v.)

(orig. US) usu. of a politician on a campaign tour to meet the electors, to shake hands; thus press-the-flesh adj., ingratiating, insincere, oleaginous.

1926		Maines & Grant Wise-crack Dict. 8/1: Press the flesh, shake hands.
1933		A.E.W. Mason Sapphire 16: ‘Press the flesh,’ said I, extending my hand [OED].
1966		Life 2 Sept. 12: The President patently was out to "press the flesh" and get himself plugged back in with the populace.
1972		Time 6 Nov. 58: A diffident public speaker who prefers to press the flesh with individual voters.
1976		N. Thornburg Cutter and Bone (2001) 120: Grinning and pressing the flesh like any other good ole boy.
1998		N. Palmer ‘Vegan Reich’ in Home Suspect Device 18: Tina was far better suited to the flesh-pressing side of things.
1999		J. Baker Walking With Ghosts (2000) 83: He gave Wimp his right hand, said, ‘Press the flesh, my man’.
2000		Indep. 25 Feb. 3: He’s out pressing the flesh with the voters of London.

press the sheets (v.)

see beat the sheets under beat v.