stay the course

1. To persevere with as much determination, energy, or fortitude as one can until the end of a race, competition, or contest. Despite an early setback in the first half, the home team stayed the course and managed to earn a draw.

2. To continue attempting or pursuing something difficult to its end or conclusion. If you can't stay the course when things get a bit messy, then you just aren't cut out for this line of work.

See also: course, stay

stay the course

Hold or persevere to the end, as in No, he's not resigning; he's going to stay the course. This metaphoric expression, alluding to a horse running an entire race, was first recorded in 1916.

See also: course, stay

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 2003, 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

stay the course

COMMON If you stay the course, you manage to finish something that is very difficult or unpleasant and takes a long time. The training takes years and a great deal of work, but if you stay the course, the rewards are fantastic. You have done remarkably well to stay the course for so long.

See also: course, stay

Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed. © HarperCollins Publishers 2012

stay the course (or distance)

1 hold out to the end of a race or contest. 2 pursue a difficult task or activity to the end.

See also: course, stay

Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017

stay the ˈcourse

continue doing something until it has finished or been completed, even though it is difficult: Very few of the trainees have stayed the course.

See also: course, stay

Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017

stay the course

To hold out or persevere to the end of a race or challenge.

See also: course, stay

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

stay the course

Hold out or last to the end. This expression alludes to a horse that runs the entire course of a race. It dates from the mid-1800s and was soon transferred to other venues. The Times of London used it during World War I: “If we are to stay the course set before us, other sections must be prepared for greater sacrifices” (May 8, 1916).

See also: course, stay

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References in periodicals archive

HR: And now, we plan to replicate Stay the Course in 6-10 locations around the country to demonstrate that our intervention works outside of Fort Worth.

A provider, a researcher, and a new way of improving lives

"We will stay the course, we will complete the job in Iraq." (Aug.

Change the course

''We will stay the course,'' he said, assuring the Iraqis that the United States will stay to achieve a smooth handover despite a fresh wave of violence in Iraq.

LEAD: Bush vows to keep June 30 Iraqi handover deadline

And stay the course she will, especially if her next big project gets the green light.

The African American book fair

What message would the committee convey to the American public to persuade them to support the government and stay the course. (Students might write a TV public-service announcement to reassure citizens that the long struggle is working.) What evidence must the government produce to bolster its argument that the antiterrorist strategies are working?

Is this WWIII: in a shadowy, new kind of war with a new kind of enemy, how will we know who's winning? (News Analysis)

I hope that the publishers will stay the course, keeping this product in print until the growing accessibility of the necessary technology makes it economically' viable.

Who Built America? From the Centennial Celebration of 1876 to the Great War of 1914

'Stay the course, stay the course.' That part is really fun,' the Chief Justice said.

A rare window into Sereno's blissful marriage life: 'Every night is a Valentine's night'

There's also a parallel in the Iraq War: As recently as spring of 2006, "stay the course" was a positive idea; anyone who questioned it was seen as weak.

Read my lips: raise taxes: the era of the tax revolt is over. How Democrats have an opportunity to redefine the politics of government

President Bush repeatedly stated that he intended to "stay the course" and that he intended to keep Iraq War architect Donald Rumsfeld on as Defense Secretary, even though top generals and many in his own party had called for Rumsfeld to go.

Did the White House throw the elections?

He plans to stay the course when it comes to Chrysler's future product plans, including the introduction of 10 new products in 2006, a new record for the automaker.

Lasorta takes charge

If I'm slandered for something God calls me to do, Jesus' example reminds me to stay the course.

Not a done deal

When voters don't like the direction the country is going in, they are not likely to want to "stay the course," as Bush urges them to do.

Bush on the ropes

To prevail, we must stay the course. Our enemies will test our collective commitment.

Leveraging air and space power--extending the nation's strategic advantage