broke the news
Delivered difficult tidings
To break the news is to be the first to tell someone about something significant, often something unpleasant or difficult to hear: The doctor broke the news that the tumor was malignant.
The phrase implies the information will have emotional impact on the recipient.
You can also break good news, though the expression more commonly accompanies bad: Who's going to break the news to her?
- informGive facts to
- letterWritten symbol or message
- shockViolent sudden disturbance
- tellConvey information verbally
- voiceSound from throat
reveal · announce · press conference · disclose · communicate · gasp · devastating · sob · bearer · surprise · family · gently · sit down · hard to hear · grief · resignation · death · impart
broke the newsconcealed
Made invisible deliberately
covered up · kept quiet · hushed up · held back · stonewalled
broke, news, breaks, breaking, broken, breaker, breakers, breakage, unbroken