Think about the headline: “Man Bites Dog.” That’s a perfect lede. It’s immediate, shocking, and you want to know more. The buried-lede version would be: “A local man was observed this morning engaging in an unusual oral interaction with a canine. The dog appeared startled.”
Idiom Tips: Bury the Lede or Bury the Lead? | Proofed
Yawn. We lost the magic. Don’t be the person who makes “Man Bites Dog” boring. Be the person who shouts it from the rooftops.
Why This Matters for You
You might be thinking, “I’m not a journalist, so who cares?” But you are a storyteller. Every time you tell a coworker about your weekend, or explain why you’re late, or write a dating profile, you’re burying or unearthing a lede.
When you lead with the good stuff, people listen. They lean in. They don’t check their phone. You become that magnetic person who always has the best stories—because you actually tell them the best part first.
Plus, it’s way more fun. Imagine the joy of dropping a bombshell without a three-paragraph preamble. It’s like skipping the appetizer and going straight for the chocolate lava cake.
