break a story

break the/a story

To be the first to address or publicize an issue, often a news story. Our newspaper broke the story of the mayor's scandal, and now every national news outlet is covering it! What if that tabloid breaks the story of our divorce? Do you really want the whole world to know about it now? Those ruthless reporters just want to break a juicy story with no regard for the lives they'll destroy in the process.

See also: break, story

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

break a story

[for a media outlet] to be the first to broadcast or distribute the story of an event. The Tribune broke the story before the Herald could even send a reporter to the scene.

See also: break, story

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.