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.
Synonyms:
- Sugarcoat the truth
- Cushion the blow
- Soft-pedal
Antonyms:
- Drop a bombshell
- Spill the beans
- Hit them like a ton of bricks
Humor-Filled Quotes:
- 🎭 “Diplomacy is the art of telling people to go to hell in such a way that they ask for directions.”—Winston Churchill
- 🏴☠️ “Some things just need to be heard. So, here I go—your Wi-Fi: insufficient.”—Internet Service Provider Guild
Related Expressions:
- “Drop it like a hot potato” (for the impatient and tactless)
- “Breaking news!” (for those who enjoy a dramatic flair)
Proverbs:
- “A spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down.”
Featured in Literature:
- Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen - Mr. Collins’s awkward proposal is an example of not breaking news gently.
- Little Women by Louisa May Alcott - Jo March is often the savage, straight-shooter of the family, but even she learns to soften her blows for those she loves.
Movie & TV Moments:
- “Steel Magnolias”: A heart-wrenching scene where family and friends strive to find the gentlest way to break tough news.
- “Friends”: When Chandler and Ross reveal Monica’s disturbing secret about Richard, it’s anything but gentle—and it shows why breaking bad news carefully matters.
Songs:
- “Softly Whispering I Love You” by The Congregation
Inspirational Farewell:
“Remember, words are like feathers in the wind—once out, they can’t be taken back. Choose yours with care and wrap them with compassion. Until next time, speak gently and spread kindness.”
### Which of these means to give bad news carefully?
- [x] Break it to someone gently
- [ ] Drop the ball
- [ ] Barking up the wrong tree
- [ ] Bite the bullet
> **Explanation:** "Break it to someone gently" is the right phrase for giving bad news carefully. The rest are either unrelated or about taking decisive actions.
### Which saying means the opposite of breaking it gently?
- [ ] Soft-pedal
- [ ] Sugarcoat the truth
- [x] Drop a bombshell
- [ ] Speak softly
> **Explanation:** To "drop a bombshell" is to reveal bad news suddenly and without warning, quite the opposite of gentle.
### True or False: 'Spill the beans' is similar to 'break it gently'.
- [ ] True
- [x] False
> **Explanation:** "Spill the beans" means to disclose secrets abruptly and without strategy, quite the reverse of breaking something gently.
