I often hear people talk of being pressurised into
doing something, but I'm almost certain this is incorrect. A can of
deodorant is pressurised, or a tin of beer, since in both cases the release of pressure yields a delicious bubbly beverage (in the former) or a pleasant smelling, easily applied spray to eliminate underarm smells (in the latter).
If one feels a degree of pressure to do something, does that not mean
that one feels pressured into doing it, as opposed to feeling pressurised?
The term pressurised seems to me to be of North American origin (I refuse to use a z instead of an s). This seems reason enough not to use it, given that American English is a different language to British English, however I see it time and again in British English language media.
There seems to be little in the way of consensus on other parts of the internet so I thought I might ask here.
Best Answer
The full OED says pressure as a verb is originally a N. American usage, which they define as...
The more "standard" form pressurize/pressurise, which can also be used with that specific figurative sense, is more likely when it's a straightforward literal usage relating to actual gas pressure (atmospheric, etc.).
It's worth noting that there are only 9 instances of "Don't pressurize me!" (AmE spelling) in Google Books, compared to 54 instances of the BrE version "Don't pressurise me!" (these numbers have to be considered in the context of an estimated 2,670 results for "Don't pressure me!").