break the news

Idioms and Phrases

Make something known, as in We suspected that she was pregnant but waited for her to break the news to her in-laws . This term, in slightly different form ( break a matter or break a business ), dates from the early 1500s. Another variant is the 20th-century journalistic phrase, break a story , meaning “to reveal a news item or make it available for publication.”

Example Sentences

And he spoke of the "nightmare" of learning wife Sarra had multiple sclerosis, and having to break the news to their two young children.

From BBC

How would they break the news to them?

From BBC

In his first TV interview since then, Sir Chris tells BBC Breakfast's Sally Nugent of the "absolute shock and horror" he felt at his initial diagnosis, the "nightmare" of learning wife Sarra had multiple sclerosis, and having to break the news to their two young children.

From BBC

But before she could get answers, she and Tony had to break the news to Jessica, who had lived her entire life believing Joan was her mother, and Tony was her brother.

From BBC

"I had to break the news to my husband and our four children and we were all absolutely devastated, because Ted is a huge personality and a beloved member of the family," she said.

From BBC

Related Words

• advise
• announce
• confess
• declare
• disclose
• explain
• express
• inform
• instruct
• mention
• notify
• order
• report
• reveal
• say
• speak
• state
• summon