Member-only story
No News Is Good News
So is all news bad news?
No News Is Good News
What Type of Phrase Is It?
This expression falls into a few different grammatical and linguistic categories depending on how you look at it:
Phrase Classification
Proverb/ Adage: A short, well-known saying that offers traditional advice or states a general truth based on common human experience.
Idiom: A widely accepted expression. While many idioms cannot be understood literally (like “break a leg”), this one functions as a transparent idiom because its meaning can still be understood from the words themselves.
Aphorism: A concise statement that contains a general truth or acute observation.
The Origin
The saying “no news is good news” dates back to the early 17th century and has roots in both English royalty and Italian culture.
King James I: The earliest recorded version of the sentiment comes from King James I of England (and VI of Scotland). In 1616, he wrote, “No newis is bettir than evill newis”.
James Howell: The phrasing we use today closely resembles a line written by author James Howell in his work Familiar Letters around 1640–1645…
