Break the news

Meaning

To break the news means to tell someone something important or new that they have not yet been informed about. It can also mean to reveal a secret or confidential information.

Usage

• I'm excited to break the news to my family - we are going on a vacation!
• The company announced that they will be closing down the office, breaking the news to employees at a meeting today.
• My friend broke the news to me that she is pregnant!
• I can't wait to share this good news with my loved ones - my partner got accepted into his dream school!
• The media often breaks the news about natural disasters, political events, and other emergencies.

Roots and History

The idiom "break the news" dates back to the 19th century and was first used in a medical context. It referred to informing someone about a diagnosis or treatment that they had not yet been told. The phrase then expanded to include any kind of important information that needed to be shared. In modern times, the idiom has taken on a broader meaning and is often used in various contexts, from personal news to breaking stories in the media.

Synonyms in English

• Announce
• Tell
• Disclose
• Reveal
• Unveil

Synonyms in other languages

• French: Reveler (to reveal)
• Spanish: Dicho (told, informed)
• Italian: Comunicato (communicated)
• German: Auskunft (information, knowledge)
• Arabic: إيجاب (good news)

Similar Idioms

• by the way

• snow job

• bare bones