bad news

You can use it as a noun phrase in a sentence. You might say, "I have some bad news." It often follows verbs like bring, deliver, or hear. You can also use it as a reaction. If a friend says their car broke down, you can say, "That’s bad news." It is very flexible and works in almost any conversation. Just remember to use a sympathetic tone when saying it to others.

Use it when you need to share a disappointment. It works well at the office when a project fails. It is perfect for personal life when plans change. Use it when texting a friend to cancel dinner. It is also common in news reports or headlines. You will hear it in movies right before a big plot twist. It’s the universal signal that things aren't going perfectly.

Don't use it for very tiny, funny mistakes. If you drop a grape, it’s not really bad news. Avoid using it if you want to be extremely formal or technical. In a legal document, they might say adverse findings instead. Also, be careful not to sound too happy when saying it. Saying "Bad news!" with a big smile will confuse people. It requires a serious or empathetic facial expression.

English speakers often try to "soften the blow" of bad news. You will often hear people say, "I’m afraid I have some bad news." This makes the statement feel more polite and less aggressive. There is a common idiom: "No news is good news." This means if you haven't heard anything, everything is likely fine. People in many English-speaking cultures value being direct but kind when delivering it.

You might hear people say rough news or tough news for something sad. If the news is very bad, they might call it terrible news or awful news. In slang, someone might say "That’s a bummer," which is a lighter version. If you are sharing both good and bad things, you say, "I have good news and bad news." Usually, people ask to hear the bad news first to get it over with!