| Bad news |
| ''Alas!'' |
| 'Sadly ...' |
| Worried words |
| ____ the worst |
| 'Sad to say...' |
| Worrier's words |
| Concerned opener |
| Sorry to say ... |
| My concern is ... |
| Bad news preceeder |
| Tag of trepidation |
| Lead-in to bad news |
| It's my worry . . . |
| Apprehensive lead-in |
| It's my concern . . . |
| Words of apprehension |
| Hate to say this . . . |
| My concern is that ... |
| Sadly, it looks like... |
| It may precede bad news |
| This isn't looking good |
| It's not looking good ... |
| Hate to break it to you... |
| It distresses me to say... |
| Methinks," before bad news |
| There is some concern ... |
| Start of a bit of bad news |
| Start to a bit of bad news |
| Here comes the bad news ... |
| Starting part of a bit of bad news |
| Don't you love farce? My fault, ___ ..." ("Send in the Clowns" lyric) |