Once you understand what a bearer of bad news is, you’ll understand why no one likes to be one. Basically, a bearer of bad news is someone who has to deliver unfortunate information to someone else. If you read on, though, you’ll understand the whole meaning, how to use it, and what other similar terms are there.
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What Does It Mean?
“To bear” means “to carry,” and everyone knows that “bad news” pertains to something negative. So, a “bearer of bad news” is someone sharing unpleasant information or negative information with somebody else.
A phrase sometimes used when someone bears bad news is “Don’t shoot the messenger.” Here, the bearer of bad news reminds us that he or she isn’t the cause of it and shouldn’t be blamed.
Example sentences:
- I hate being the bearer of bad news, but there’s something you have to know.
- As the oldest sibling, you may have to be the bearer of bad news to your parents or your other siblings.
- Being a bearer of bad news can be emotionally painful when the bad news is tragic.
When and How to Use It
Often, a bearer of bad news has to deliver tragic, devastating, or unfortunate news to another person. Consider the following scenarios:
- A doctor or nurse informing a husband or wife that their spouse has died.
- A doctor delivering a grim diagnosis to a patient.
- A police officer telling parents that their child was killed in a car wreck.
- A real estate agent informing clients that their offer was rejected.
- HR informing an employee that they’re being let go because of budget issues.
- A banker informing struggling homeowners that the bank is foreclosing their home.
Not all bad news is on those kinds of levels of seriousness. That still doesn’t make it easy to be the bearer of bad news, though. Here are some example scenarios:
- A student learning from a teacher that he didn’t get the starring role in the school play
- A mother informing her child that they have to cancel a playdate.
- A mechanic telling a car owner that their vehicle is unsalvageable.
Since bringing bad news can lead to a difficult conversation and negative emotions, some bad news messengers have the tendency to show compassion and empathy when delivering negative information to the recipient. They also often extend apologies after delivering the difficult news.
Alternatives to Bearer of Bad News
There are some alternatives to using the term bearer of bad news. None of them make the job any easier, though.
- Doomsayer (someone sharing that something terrible has happened or is about to)
- Harbinger (usually to indicate something wrong is going to happen soon)
- “The Messenger” (see the phrase “Don’t shoot the messenger” discussed earlier)
- Cassandra (imperfect comparison). In Greek mythology, Cassandra is the daughter of the king of Troy and also a priestess of Apollo. She was cursed to share true prophecies that no one would believe. Most famously, she warned the Trojans that Greek warriors were inside the Trojan horse. No one believed her, and the Greeks sacked Troy.
- Doom prophet (someone who predicts terrible things to come)
Final Thoughts
A bearer of bad news has the unwelcome job of delivering information that people aren’t going to like. It can be tragic or relatively minor, but the news is always unwelcome. Remember, don’t shoot the messenger of bad news and place blame on them. And if you ever find yourself to be a bad news bearer, you’ll realize why nobody likes to be one!
