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What does “break the news” mean?
Meaning, example sentence and a quick practice question.
B2
To tell someone important information, often bad news
“I had to break the news that the trip was canceled.”
Say it smoothly: “break-thuh-news”
From the B2 lesson Reading Between the Lines (honest communication).
Quick check
What does “break the news” mean?
Teaching this phrase?“break the news” is part of a ready-to-teach lesson, with a reading, three exercises, speaking tasks and an answer key, in Everyday English Chunks B2 Pack 4 (Communication, Decisions and Habits).
See the B2 lesson pack
See the B2 lesson pack
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Related phrases
- read between the linesto understand a meaning that isn't stated directly
- get your point acrossto make sure other people understand what you're trying to say
- beat around the bushto avoid saying something directly, usually because it's difficult
- straight to the pointdirect, without unnecessary details
- a heart-to-heartan honest, personal conversation, often about feelings
- speak your mindto say openly and honestly what you really think
- put it bluntlyto say something in a very direct, sometimes blunt, way
- keep sb in the darkto deliberately not tell someone information
- drop a hintto suggest something indirectly rather than saying it outright