bad news

noun

Informal.

1. an annoying, disturbing, unwelcome thing or person; nuisance; troublemaker.

bad news

noun

1. slang,  someone or something regarded as undesirable

   he's bad news around here

Idioms and Phrases

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]

The amount charged for something, as in Waiter, bring our check—I want to see the bad news . [ Slang ; 1920s]

Example Sentences

I have good news and bad news; let’s start with the latter.

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Bad news gets the headlines, but the stock market just keeps going up.

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Let’s face it—there was bad news aplenty this week.

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The bad news is that few other groups enjoy the same privileged protection.

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The fallout is bad news for auto makers such as General Motors and Stellantis, which have enjoyed a quota of tariff-free exports to Canada, even though the stocks haven’t reacted much early Friday.

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