to tell someone about something bad that has just happened and may have an effect on them

I was devastated when the doctor broke the news to me. 当医生告诉我这个消息时，我简直要崩溃了。

I remember where I was when the news of Kennedy's assassination broke (= became known). 我还记得肯尼迪遇刺的消息传来时自己在什么地方。

Breaking the news to my kids was the hardest thing I've ever done.

I had to break the news to my mother that my father had died.

Then I had to break the news to the other band members.

I tried to break the news as gently as I could.