Can we 'warm up somebody' for a bad news?!

[Mehrgan]

Hi all,

I was wondering if there is any verb (phrasal verb) we use for a situation in which we try to prepare soebody for a bad news! Say, a close relative of them has just passed away and we prefer not to put it directly, by talking to them and making them prepared.


Hope there is such an expression or verb!


Many thanks!

[Alamshar]

I can' think of a phrasal verb or something nice and neat but you can say "to break it to them/him gently".
"break the news softly" or other variations with "break"

[BobK]

And, as the adverb implies, it is possible (though a bit Macchiavellian) to 'soften them up' before breaking it. But the verb is 'break' - attenuated by some adverb like gently/softly/delicately/with finesse...

b

[SoothingDave]

You can also try to "cushion the blow."

[BobK]

'Cushion the blow' - break bad news about pain etc
'Sugar the pill' - break bad news about something unpleasant (e.g. higher tax)

Often they overlap.

b

[Mehrgan]

Thank you dear posters for the helpful answers! Please put my questions down to my poor understanding of English. :(


Well, it's quite common that in some cultures, especially the ones in which people have some religious beliefs, people would try to calm each other down in case something disastrous happen to them. Before the news, say, of a person's death is broken we would normally hear someone say, 'well, you know, things happen...there're ups and downs in life...we've got to face the reality, etc.' none of which is the news itself.

I figure I shouldn't persist in getting a fixed expression for using such sentences. Am I right?

By the way, I should be so thankful for the choices you have given me. They're cool! Ta!

[birdeen's call]

Well, it's quite common that in some cultures, especially the ones in which people have some religious beliefs, people would try to calm each other down in case something disastrous happen to them.

What does it have to do with religion? I haven't met many people who wouldn't try to comfort a distressed person and I know many irreligious folks.

[riquecohen]

Thank you dear posters for the helpful answers! Please put my questions down to my poor understanding of English. :(


Well, it's quite common that in some cultures, especially the ones in which people have some religious beliefs, people would try to calm each other down in case something disastrous happen to them. Before the news, say, of a person's death is broken we would normally hear someone say, 'well, you know, things happen...there're ups and downs in life...we've got to face the reality, etc.' none of which is the news itself.
These people are all "beating around the bush."
I figure I shouldn't persist in getting a fixed expression for using such sentences. Am I right?

By the way, I should be so thankful for the choices you have given me. They're cool! Ta!

H.

[BobK]

In British English it's "beating about the bush". I think the alliteration makes it more expressive.

b

[5jj]

Death seems to attract blow-softening euphemisms. When my father popped his clogs (pop one's clogs - Wiktionary), I informed people that he had died; my mother said that he had passed away. An American friend wrote that she was sad to hear that he had passed. I hear passing without the away for the first time in the film Walk the Line.

I have never heard of an animal being killed when it’s very sick – it’s usually put down or put to sleep.

More expressions here: Euphemisms for Death/dead/to die | Listology