gently

break it (to one) gently

To deliver or reveal bad news to one in a calm manner so that one does not get upset. Sarah's been working on this project for months, so let's try to break it to her gently that the bosses have decided to scrap it. I was hoping I could break it gently, but I guess there's no other way of saying this. Jeff, you're fired. How am I going to break it to him gently that Molly doesn't want anything to do with him anymore?

See also: break, gently

break it to (one)

To deliver unfortunate or upsetting news to one. Sarah's been working on this project for months, so let's try to break it to her gently that the bosses have decided to scrap it. Look, I hate to break it to you, but Molly doesn't want anything to do with you anymore. Who's going to be the one to break it to Jeff that he's being fired?

See also: break, to

let (one) down gently

To deliver bad news to someone in the kindest or least upsetting way possible. When you tell Ed that somebody already asked you to the dance, please let him down gently. I tried to let Susan down gently, but she burst into tears nonetheless.

See also: down, gently, let

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

let someone down gently

seek to give someone bad news in a way that avoids causing them too much distress or humiliation.

See also: down, gently, let, someone

Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017

ˌeasy/ˌgently/ˌslowly ˈdoes it

(informal) used for telling somebody to be careful, calm, etc: Easy does it! Just lift it a little bit and I think it’ll go through the door.

See also: does, easy, gently, slowly

Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017

break it (to someone) gently, to

To reveal bad news in a calm, soothing fashion. “With a design to break the matter gently to his partners,” wrote John Arbuthnot in 1712. In time the verb to break in the sense of “to tell” incorporated the idea of “gently,” making the cliché a tautology.

See also: break, to

The Dictionary of Clichés by Christine Ammer Copyright © 2013 by Christine Ammer