Bad news travels fast.
Bad news travels fast.
Meaning in plain English
The saying pictures bad news moving quickly between people. It emphasises the rapid circulation of reports of trouble or misfortune.
Example
A group checks the original message before forwarding an alarming report received from several people.
Deeper explanation and when to use it
Travels makes information behave like a moving visitor. A useful application can ask how a troubling report spreads and whether its contents have been checked. The phrase does not prove that all negative news spreads faster than other news or that a rapidly shared account is accurate.
When to use it
Use it to discuss circulation of troubling reports while checking their accuracy.
Keep in mind
Speed of circulation does not establish truth or a universal comparison with good news.
Edsverb editorial interpretation · agent reviewed · 2026-10-05. This explains the saying; it does not establish its historical origin.
- Source
- Contributor-provided proverb reference
Supplied reference A; unit 50; PDF page 11
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Preserved as printed; independently unverified. - Historical coordinate
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