lead in

1. To guide or escort someone or something in (to something or some place). A noun or pronoun can be used between "lead" and "in." Please don't lead your students in until the principal has finished giving his speech. I want you and Officer Bukowski to lead in the senator's car as soon as it arrives.

2. To act as an introduction, transition, or segue (to something else). The overture leads in so exquisitely that the rest of the piece can't help but pale in comparison. Instead of leading in smoothly to the primary plot, the prologue provides a lot of confusing historical background that won't make sense until much later in the story.

3. Of music, to introduce someone in a song, during a performance, into a room, etc. In this usage, a noun or pronoun can be used between "lead" and "in." You wait behind the stage until the band leads you in. Mark will sing first, leading in the rest of the band after the opening bars.

1. to begin something; to work into something. Let me lead into the first number with a little talk about the composer. I'll lead in, then you pick up the melody.

2. to make a transition into something; to segue into something. Now, we will lead into the second scene with a little soft orchestral music. The soft music will lead in, then the curtains will open.