A cover story noun phrase
A story considered noteworthy (or scandalous) enough to be put on the cover of a magazine.
Min's school violence is revealed, and this will surely be this week's cover story for all the news magazines.
Jack and Linda broke up, which was our cover story last week.
A lie told as an alibi.
The cover story she told the police was that she was Keith's home on that day.
James gave the police a cover story about being locked in stockroom.
To try to make someone believe a long and untrue story