bearer

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bearer of bad news

Literally, someone who delivers bad news. The bearer often identifies as such as an introductory warning that they have bad news to deliver. I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but I'm afraid your grandfather passed away late last night. We were celebrating our teacher's absence until Susie, the bearer of bad news, told us that the principal was coming to give us our exam.
See also: bad, bearer, news, of

standard-bearer

1. A military member who carries the flag of their unit. The soldier marched proudly, flag in hand, as the standard-bearer of his unit.
2. The widely-accepted leader of a cause, movement, or ideology. She rose above her contemporaries to become the standard-bearer of the women's rights movement.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2015 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

the standard bearer

COMMON The standard bearer of a group of people or a belief is a person who represents them. He saw himself as the standard bearer of the right of the party. She's become very much the standard bearer for traditional, family values. Note: A standard is a flag with badges or symbols on it, which represent a person or organization. In the past, a standard bearer was the person who led an army into battle carrying a standard.
See also: bearer, standard
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed. © HarperCollins Publishers 2012
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References in periodicals archive ?
The minister hoped that the new office bearers would do utmost to resolve the issue of journalists and media workers besides utilizing their energies for the welfare and well being of their community.
Fawad felicitates newly elected NPC President Shakeel Qarar, others
Hitting back at the CoA's move, Choudhary, in his letter to the CoA, questioned several decisions taken by the committee since its formation on January 2 last year besides accusing them of systematically usurping powers from the BCCI office bearers.
BCCI acting secy hurls fresh bouncer at CoA in scathing letter
About 400 kavadi bearers and thousands of paal kudam (milk pot carriers) are expected to make their way up the temple to fulfill their vows before 6pm today.
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The central observers not only found office bearers inexperienced and under- performing, but also pointed out financial irregularities.
Delhi BJP may turn to old guard
The city of Coventry standard bearers will provide a guard of honour.
EX-SERVICE NOTES
For while soldiers had weapons oering at least some protection, stretcher bearers would run into No Man's Land and into the line of re to pull back fallen comrades on the battle eld.
Stretcher bearers showed great courage
"The serving team of office bearers took office on 02 December 2012," she said.
End of term for City office bearers
The bearer party will be followed by two cap orderlies, who will hold the caps of the bearers.
Soldier honour; NORTH TODAY POLITICS
Mohammad Al Ansari, Chairman, Al Ansari Exchange and outgoing Chairman of FERG congratulated the new office bearers and also assured them of full support.
Dubai's Foreign Exchange and Remittance Group elects board
The Managing Committee of Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry was, elected unopposed Office Bearers for year 2012-2013.
HAROON AGAR NEW PRESIDENT KCCI
The scheduler is responsible for implementing the QoS characteristics assigned to radio bearers. The eNB's MAC scheduler receives inputs from various sources which guide the scheduling algorithms.
DYNAMIC ADMISSION CONTROL and SCHEDULING FOR EFFICIENT CHANNEL UTILIZATION IN LTE NETWORKS
The PML-N has been without central and provincial office- bearers for the past 22 months as it has failed to hold elections despite the passage of four deadlines for one reason or another.
PML-N all set to elect its president today
This curve can be obtained if we plot on the abscissa of the system of coordinates the market players (criterion bearers) in the descending order of their values and the respective additive values (the sums of criterion bearers)--on the ordinate (Piesch 1975).
Additive measurement of market concentration
Plastic tubs need timber 'bearers' to hold them in place.
How to ... fix a leak
Have mystery bearers across cultures and across history traditionally opted for celibacy?
How to build a better priest
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