phrasal verb / idiom · neutral
break the news
UK/breɪk ðə njuːz/US/breɪk ðə nuːz/break·the·NEWS
to tell someone (often bad) information that they did not know before
Examples
“I had to break the news to her that the exam was postponed.”
“He didn't know how to break the news about his father's illness.”
“Journalists sometimes break the news before officials make an announcement.”
Band 8 sentence
“Delivering bad information requires tact; she chose to break the news privately and gently to avoid unnecessary distress.”
Collocations
- break the news to someone
- break the news gently
- break the news that + clause
Word family
Common mistakes
tell the news→break the news
announce the news to someone→break the news to someone
Say it for a higher band
5tell someone→6inform someone→7+break the news
Synonyms
inform
announce
Easily confused
inform
“The teacher informed the class of the change in timetable.”
announce
“The company announced its new policy this morning.”
Related words
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