to strike a lead

7.5

To find a useful clue that helps an investigation

phrasal verb

: encontrar una pista

After days of research, the detective finally managed to strike a lead in the complex case.

Examples

Journalists often work tirelessly to strike a lead before their competitors do.
The archaeologist was thrilled to strike a lead that could reveal the city's lost history.
The detective struck a lead during the investigation.
Have you struck a lead on the missing person case?
After days of research, the detective finally managed to strike a lead in the complex case.
Journalists often work tirelessly to strike a lead before their competitors do.
The archaeologist was thrilled to strike a lead that could reveal the city's lost history.

Synonyms

to find

vsto strike a lead

∞ 1.0

To discover something while looking or by accident

focuses on discovering a useful clue or promising opportunity during inquiry

to turn up

vsto strike a lead

76 3.0

To find something while searching or by chance

focuses on discovering a useful clue or promising opportunity rather than passive revelation

to unearth

vsto strike a lead

24 4.4

To find hidden facts or things by careful searching

focuses on discovering a useful clue or promising opportunity during inquiry

to ferret out

vsto strike a lead

Informal

14 6.7

To search carefully to find hidden facts or documents

focuses on discovering a useful clue or promising opportunity during inquiry

to hit upon

vsto strike a lead

8 4.9

To find or think of something by chance

focuses on discovering a useful clue or promising opportunity during inquiry rather than by chance

Antonyms

to miss

∞ 1.7

To not notice or hear something important

to overlook

205 2.9

To not notice someone or something you should see

How Promising

breakthrough

233 3.9

to strike a lead

7.5

clue

985 1.0

Surface Forms

strike a lead infinitive

striking a lead present participle

strikes a lead third person singular

struck a lead past

struck a lead past participle

Morphology

strike + a + lead

The meaning 'to discover a helpful clue' is directly derivable from combining 'strike' (to encounter or discover) with 'lead' (a piece of information), so a learner who knows both words can infer the phrase. The construction follows a regular verb + noun composition and, despite being a collocation, does not require special cultural or metaphorical knowledge.

Etymology

Strike a lead may come from old miners: to strike means to hit and a lead was a rich vein of metal they found while digging. So, today saying you strike a lead means you 'find a useful clue' or a 'promising opportunity'.