news

be bad news

to be unpleasant and to have a bad effect on other people or situations. I've worked with her in the past and I'm telling you she's bad news. The government's failure to be firm on air quality is bad news for the environment. (often + for)

See also: bad

No news is good news.

something that you say when you have not spoken to someone or heard any information about them and you are hoping that this is because nothing bad has happened to them. I haven't heard from Johnny for over a week now but I suppose no news is good news.

See also: good

That's news to me.

something that you say to someone when they have just told you a piece of information that surprises you. And he told you he did a lot of cooking, did he? Well, that's news to me.

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break the news

to make known new information. Detectives broke the news to Mrs. Allen that her husband's body had been identified.

Usage notes: usually said about information that causes sadness or worry

See also: break

(that's) news to you

something that you did not know. You say the jury found him guilty? That's news to me. The boss said it was news to him that some of the employees had shredded documents.

Usage notes: usually said about something that surprises you