Meaning & use

bearer of bad news

phrase·Academic

A person who has to tell someone unwelcome or upsetting information.

See it in a sentence

I hate being the bearer of bad news, but your flight has been canceled.

As the bearer of bad news, the doctor chose her words carefully.

A note on using this word

Often used to soften unwelcome information, as in "I'm sorry to be the bearer of bad news."

Words with a similar meaning

messenger

Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.

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