break the news

Idioms  

1. 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.”

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

break the news

The two men organize a lunch with Wiatt at the Beverly Wilshire, and at some point they and Jennifer—and Patrick, who decides last minute to attend—gently break the news.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 15, 2026

Serena Williams opted to let Nike break the news about her pro tennis comeback at age 44 in two slick commercials.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 11, 2026

So when I called him to break the news, he started crying.

From Salon ● Mar. 24, 2026

However, the scientific paper detailing the discovery was published sooner than expected, meaning he had to break the news to him during a video call instead.

From BBC ● Feb. 17, 2026

I had told Rich earlier that I would tell my mother first and let her break the news to my father.

From "The Joy Luck Club" by Amy Tan

Related Words

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