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

The court will also keep fielding emergency requests, some of which may break news.

From Slate • Jun. 30, 2026

This is a break news story, please return to this page for more details.

From BBC • Apr. 13, 2024

“I don’t have to break news — I didn’t want to,” she said.

From Seattle Times • Mar. 1, 2024

“I am proud of the LA Times’ journalistic integrity, ability to break news rapidly and strong investigative reporting,” Soon-Shiong wrote.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 9, 2024

Decide to break news to him just before he arrives at tent; very painful task indeed.

From Woman's Endurance by Luckhoff, A. D (August D.)

Related Words

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