burst (someone's) bubble

to tell someone unexpected bad news.

I don't want to burst her bubble by telling her we won't have a vacation this summer.

He tries to burst the bubble of anyone who believes population growth is not a problem.

• let someone down
• let someone go
• let someone have it
• let someone in on
• let someone in on something
• let someone off
• let someone off easy
• let someone off the hook
• let someone slide
• let someone slip through fingers
• let someone slip through your fingers
• let something be
• let something go
• let something ride
• let something slide
• let something slip
• let something slip through fingers
• let something slip through your fingers
• let something speak for itself
• let something speak for themselves
• let speak for itself
• let speak for themselves
• let's see
• letter of the law
• let the cat out of the bag