100 Ways to Say “The bad news is”

No.	Item	Definition
1.	A cautionary note:	Introduces a warning or drawback.
2.	A fair warning:	Signals an unpleasant truth ahead.
3.	A heads-up:	Gives advance notice of something negative.
4.	A word of warning:	Signals a negative caution ahead.
5.	As it turns out,	Introduces an unwelcome discovery.
6.	As luck would have it,	Introduces an unfortunate outcome.
7.	At the risk of bad news,	Prefaces something unpleasant to hear.
8.	Bad news:	Introduces something unfortunate.
9.	Bottom line:	Introduces the unpleasant conclusion.
10.	Brace yourself:	Prepares someone for bad news.
11.	Breaking it to you:	Introduces bad news gently.
12.	But here’s the bad news:	Contrasts with earlier good news.
13.	Here’s the downside:	Introduces a negative point.
14.	Here’s the hard part:	Introduces the hard part.
15.	Here’s the tricky part:	Introduces the tricky part.
16.	Here’s what’s wrong:	Here’s the problem.
17.	I bring bad news.	Announces bad news.
18.	I come bearing bad news.	Announces bad news.
19.	I don’t like to say it, but	Prefaces unpleasant news.
20.	I don’t want to say this, but	Prefaces unpleasant news.
21.	I hate to say it, but	Prefaces unpleasant news.
22.	I have bad news for you.	States bad news for someone.
23.	I have some bad news.	States there is bad news.
24.	I have unfortunate news.	Announces unfortunate news.
25.	I regret to say	Introduces bad news formally.
26.	I wish I had better news, but	Signals disappointment.
27.	I’m afraid	Softens bad news.
28.	I’m sorry to say	Introduces bad news politely.
29.	I’m sorry, but	Introduces disappointing news.
30.	I’ve got bad news.	States there is bad news.
31.	I’ve got disappointing news.	Announces disappointing news.
32.	I’ve got unfortunate news.	Announces unfortunate news.
33.	Key drawback is	Introduces the main disadvantage.
34.	Kicker is,	Introduces the unpleasant twist.
35.	Knotty part is	Introduces the difficult aspect.
36.	Let me level with you:	Signals a hard truth coming.
37.	Let’s be honest:	Introduces a blunt negative truth.
38.	Not to be the bearer, but	Introduces unwelcome news.
39.	Not to sugarcoat it, but	Signals a harsh truth ahead.
40.	Now for the bad news:	Transitions to bad news.
41.	Now, the bad part:	Transitions to the negative part.
42.	On the flip side,	Introduces the negative side.
43.	One snag:	Introduces a problem or obstacle.
44.	One wrinkle is	Introduces a complicating problem.
45.	Only problem is	Introduces the main issue.
46.	Sorry, but	Introduces disappointing news.
47.	That’s the bad news.	Summarizes the bad news.
48.	That’s the downside.	Summarizes the downside.
49.	That’s the hard part.	Summarizes the hard part.
50.	The catch here is	Points to a condition here.
51.	The catch is	Introduces an unpleasant condition.
52.	The downside here is	Points to a negative here.
53.	The downside is	Signals a negative aspect.
54.	The hard part is	Introduces the difficult part.
55.	The hitch here is	Points to a hitch here.
56.	The hitch is	Introduces a complicating detail.
57.	The issue here is	Points to an issue here.
58.	The issue is	Introduces a concern or difficulty.
59.	The news is not good.	Says the news is bad.
60.	The news isn’t good.	Says the news is bad.
61.	The problem here is	Points to a problem here.
62.	The problem is	Introduces the main difficulty.
63.	The rub here is	Points to the rub here.
64.	The rub is	Introduces the key difficulty.
65.	The snag here is	Points to a snag here.
66.	The snag is	Introduces an unexpected problem.
67.	The tricky part is	Introduces the tricky part.
68.	The trouble here is	Points to trouble here.
69.	The trouble is	Introduces a complication.
70.	There is bad news.	States bad news exists.
71.	There is some bad news.	States some bad news exists.
72.	There’s bad news.	States bad news exists.
73.	There’s difficult news.	States difficult news exists.
74.	There’s disappointing news.	States disappointing news exists.
75.	There’s discouraging news.	States discouraging news exists.
76.	There’s distressing news.	States distressing news exists.
77.	There’s grim news.	States grim news exists.
78.	There’s sad news.	States sad news exists.
79.	There’s some bad news.	States some bad news exists.
80.	There’s some disappointing news.	States some disappointment.
81.	There’s some unfortunate news.	States unfortunate news exists.
82.	There’s troubling news.	States troubling news exists.
83.	There’s unfortunate news.	States unfortunate news exists.
84.	There’s unpleasant news.	States unpleasant news exists.
85.	There’s unwelcome news.	States unwelcome news exists.
86.	There’s upsetting news.	States upsetting news exists.
87.	This is the bad part:	Introduces the negative part.
88.	Ugly truth is	Introduces a harsh reality.
89.	Unfortunately for us,	Introduces a negative consequence.
90.	Unwelcome update:	Introduces negative new information.
91.	We’re in trouble.	We face serious difficulty.
92.	We’re not in the clear.	The risk remains.
93.	We’re not out of the woods.	The danger isn’t over.
94.	What complicates things is	A complicating problem follows.
95.	What hurts is	The painful part is this.
96.	What you won’t like is	You won’t like what follows.
97.	What’s the catch?	Here’s the hidden drawback.
98.	What’s troubling is	A troubling point follows.
99.	What’s unfortunate is	An unfortunate point follows.
100.	What’s worse is	An even worse point follows.