- Home
- Idioms
- news
news
bearer of bad news
Literally, someone who delivers bad news. The bearer often identifies himself or herself as such as an introductory warning that he or she has bad news to deliver. I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but I'm afraid your grandfather passed away late last night. We were celebrating our teacher's absence until Susie, the bearer of bad news, told us that the principal was coming to give us our exam.
go abroad and you'll hear news of home
Once one is no longer at home, one becomes more interested or invested in news of home and family as it circulates second-hand. A: "Are you sure that Sir Gregory is selling the estate?" B: "Indeed. Go abroad and you'll hear news of home, my good man."
make news
To garner attention and be the topic of conversation. Sam's sudden resignation really made news today—everyone in the office is talking about it!
bad news travels fast
Bad news circulates quickly (because people are apt to hear it and then share it with others). A: "How does the whole school already know that I got suspended?" B: "Well, bad news travels fast."
be bad news
slang To be, or be perceived as, unpleasant or unsavory. Stay away from that gang of kids from the other side of town—they're bad news. Coach lets me play a lot, so if he gets fired, it will be bad news for me. Our wedding is this weekend, so a snowstorm would be bad news indeed!
fake news
1. Fabricated news reports presented as authentic. As they aim to drive web traffic to the providing website, they often have provocative headlines. That story is clearly fake news, spreading lies in support of a thinly-veiled political agenda.
2. By extension, any news report that one judges to be biased or inaccurate. That article came from a legitimate site, so you can't just dismiss it as fake news.
Bad news travels fast.
Prov. Information about trouble or misfortune disseminates quickly (more quickly than good news). John: Hi, Andy. I'm sorry to hear you got fired. Andy: How did you know about that already? It only happened this morning. John: Bad news travels fast. I called my mother to tell her about my car accident, but my aunt had already told her. Bad news travels fast.
break the news (to someone)
to tell someone some important news, usually bad news. The doctor had to break the news to Jane about her husband's cancer. I hope that the doctor broke the news gently.
No news is good news
. Not hearing any news signifies that nothing is wrong. Fred: I wonder if Jill is doing all right in her new job. Jane: No news is good news. Jane: I'm worried about my sister. She hasn't called me for months. Alan: No news is good news, right?
That's news to me.
I did not know that.; I had not been informed of that. Bill: They've blocked off Maple Street for some repairs. Tom: That's news to me. Sally: The telephones are out. None of them work. Bill: That's news to me.
break the news
to make known new information
Detectives broke the news to Mrs. Allen that her husband's body had been identified. Usage notes: usually said about information that causes sadness or worry
(that's) news to you
something that you did not know
You say the jury found him guilty? That's news to me. The boss said it was news to him that some of the employees had shredded documents. Usage notes: usually said about something that surprises you
be bad news
to be unpleasant and to have a bad effect on other people or situations I've worked with her in the past and I'm telling you she's bad news. (often + for ) The government's failure to be firm on air quality is bad news for the environment.
No news is good news.
something that you say when you have not spoken to someone or heard any information about them and you are hoping that this is because nothing bad has happened to them I haven't heard from Johnny for over a week now but I suppose no news is good news.
That's news to me.
something that you say to someone when they have just told you a piece of information that surprises you And he told you he did a lot of cooking, did he? Well, that's news to me.
bad news
1. An unwelcome thing or person, trouble. For example, That fire was bad news; we were underinsured for the damage, or No one wants Mary on the board-she's bad news. This term transfers literal bad news-the report of an unhappy recent event-to an unwanted or undesirable individual or circumstance. [Slang; 1920s]
2. The amount charged for something, as in Waiter, bring our check-I want to see the bad news. [Slang; 1920s]
break the news
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."
no news is good news
Having no information means that bad developments are unlikely, as in I haven't heard from them in a month, but no news is good news. This proverbial phrase may have originated with King James I of England, who allegedly said "No news is better than evil news" (1616).
bad news
1. n. the bill for something. Here comes the bad news.
2. mod. unpleasant; unfortunate; repellent. That poor guy is really bad news.