Street voices
Janna
·
United States
"Pressed is being annoyed, mad, or, you know, bothered at something. An example would be, Man, it's just a joke. Why are you so pressed?"
What it means
It means annoyed, bothered, or way too emotionally worked up over something that really isn't that serious. If someone's pressed, they're letting a small comment, tiny slight, or minor inconvenience sit on them heavy, and you can usually see it all over their face. People often say it to clown somebody who's doing the most.
Usage examples
"She has been pressed all morning because she got left on read by some guy she met once at a wedding, and now the whole brunch table is rolling its eyes."
"Do not get pressed about the playlist, we can just queue your songs next, the night is long and the bluetooth does not care who is mad."
"You still pressed 'cause he didn't like your story back? Babe, stand up, the sun is out."
"He got all pressed over a seat at the kickback, like damn, nobody stole your destiny."
"Why are you so pressed over who sat where? It's a cookout, not the throne room."
Got something to say?
Edit, fix or tell us something. We review it and, if it is true, you will see it applied with your name on it.
Where it comes from
This comes from African American English, where pressed has long been used for feeling under pressure, stressed, or emotionally tight about something. It spread wider through Black speech communities, then got a big online boost in the 2010s through Black Twitter before landing in mainstream internet and Gen Z talk.
Other ways to say it
Editors of this term
Your vote counts
Is this real street talk or have we lost the plot? Cast your vote.
