bury the lead

English

Alternative forms

• bury the lede (US)

Verb

bury the lead (third-person singular simple present buries the lead, present participle burying the lead, simple past and past participle buried the lead)

1. (idiomatic) (news writing style) To begin a story with details of secondary importance to the reader while postponing more essential points or facts.
   • 1977, "Don't bury the lead. This is similar to backing into the lead, except that the major element has been buried several paragraphs down"
   • 2004, "Don't bury the lead in the body of your story. As a TV news viewer, I'm poised to change the channel"