news flash
MediumInformal to Neutral
Definition
Meaning
A very short, urgent report of a recent, important, or surprising event, typically interrupting scheduled programming.
Any sudden, brief announcement of new or surprising information, often used figuratively to introduce a statement of obvious or ironic fact.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Implies immediacy and significance. Can be used literally (media) or sarcastically (to state the obvious). The compound form 'newsflash' is also common.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Both varieties use the term identically. The spelling as one word ('newsflash') is perhaps slightly more common in British English.
Connotations
Neutral in media contexts; often carries a sarcastic or humorous tone in conversational use in both varieties.
Frequency
Comparable frequency in both dialects. More common in spoken and informal written English than in formal prose.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
News flash about [TOPIC]News flash that [CLAUSE]News flash from [SOURCE]News flash on [CHANNEL/STATION]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “News flash! (as a sarcastic interjection)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare, except metaphorically: 'News flash: profits are down this quarter.'
Academic
Virtually unused in formal academic writing.
Everyday
Common in conversation, often sarcastic: 'News flash: it's raining in London again.'
Technical
Used in broadcasting and journalism to denote a specific type of urgent report.
Examples
By Part of Speech
adjective
British English
- The news-flash interruption startled viewers.
- A newsflash style of reporting.
American English
- The news-flash segment broke into the show.
- His newsflash announcement was brief.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- We saw a news flash about the football match on TV.
- News flash: The school is closed tomorrow.
- The programme was interrupted by a news flash about the election results.
- Oh, news flash, I already knew that piece of gossip!
- A sudden news flash alerted the public to the severe weather warning.
- He began his argument with, 'News flash: not everyone shares your opinion.'
- The 24-hour news channel prioritised immediacy, leading to a proliferation of often poorly verified news flashes.
- Her sarcastic 'News flash: capitalism isn't perfect' perfectly deflated the room's uncritical enthusiasm.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a FLASH of lightning illuminating the sky at the same moment you hear important NEWS. The flash represents the sudden, brief nature of the report.
Conceptual Metaphor
NEWS IS LIGHT (a 'flash' of news illuminates a situation suddenly).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct calque 'новостная вспышка'. Use 'экстренное сообщение', 'срочная новость', or the borrowed 'ньюсфлеш' in media contexts.
- The sarcastic interjection 'News flash!' is often best translated as 'Сюрприз-сюрприз!' or 'Важное сообщение!' with ironic intonation.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'newsflash' as a verb (e.g., 'He newsflashed the event').
- Confusing it with a longer 'news report' or 'news segment'.
- Misspelling as 'news flesh'.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the phrase 'News flash!' most likely to be used sarcastically?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Both 'news flash' (two words) and 'newsflash' (one word) are correct and commonly used. Dictionaries often list both.
No, it is not standard to use 'news flash' as a verb. Use verbs like 'announce', 'report', or 'alert' instead.
They are very similar. A 'news flash' is typically a very brief, urgent announcement. 'Breaking news' can refer to the initial report of a major story, which might then be followed by longer, continuous coverage.
It is used as a sarcastic or ironic interjection to introduce a statement that the speaker considers obvious, often to mock someone for stating the obvious or for being slow to realize something.