stretch

*in the (home)stretch

Fig. in the last stage of a process. (From horse racing. *Typically: be ~; get ~.) We're in the homestretch with this project and can't change it now. We're in the stretch. Only three more days till we graduate.

at a stretch

continuously; without stopping. We all had to do eight hours of duty at a stretch. The baby doesn't sleep for more than three hours at a stretch.

by any stretch of the imagination

as much as anyone could imagine; as much as is imaginable. (Often negative.) I don't see how anyone by any stretch of the imagination could fail to understand what my last sentence meant.

See also: any, imagination

stretch someone or something out

to extend or draw out someone or something. Molly stretched the baby out to change his clothes. She stretched out the baby, who had rolled into a ball.

See also: out

stretch something out (to someone or something)

to reach something out to someone or something. Jeff stretched his hand out to Tiffany. He stretched out his hand to the visitor.

See also: out

stretch a point and stretch the point

Fig. to interpret a point flexibly and with great latitude. Would it be stretching a point to suggest that everyone is invited to your picnic? To say that everyone is invited is stretching the point.

See also: point

stretch away (from something)

to extend away from something. A vast plain stretched away from the riverbank. The plain stretched away as far as we could see.

See also: away

stretch away to

some place to extend as far as some place. The forest stretched away to the horizon. The river stretched away to the sea.

See also: away

stretch forth (from something)

to extend out or forth from something. A path stretched forth from the cabin, leading deep into the woods. Outside the cabin door, a path stretched forth.

See also: forth

stretch one's legs

Fig. to walk around and loosen one's leg muscles after sitting down or lying down for a time. We wanted to stretch our legs during intermission. After sitting in the car all day, the travelers decided to stretch their legs.

See also: leg

stretch one's money and make one's money stretch

Fig. to economize so that one's money lasts longer. We have to stretch our money in order to be able to buy groceries at the end of the month.

See also: money

stretch out

[for one] to extend and stretch one's body to its full length. She lay down, stretched out, and relaxed for the first time in days. I need a bigger bed. I can't stretch out in this one.

See also: out

stretch out to someone or something

to extend as far as someone or something. His arm stretched out to the guy next to him and established the correct amount of separation in the ranks. The beach stretched out to the horizon.

See also: out

stretch the truth and stretch the point; stretch it

Fig. to exaggerate. When he claimed to have a Ph.D., he was stretching the truth. Sally tends to stretch the point when telling tales about her wild teenage years.

See also: truth

stretch your arm no further than your sleeve will reach

Prov. Do not spend more money than you have. Sue: I can get enough money for college if I take out several loans. Bill: I'd advise against it. Stretch your arm no further than your sleeve will reach.

See also: arm, further, reach, sleeve

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not by any stretch of the imagination  also by no stretch of the imagination

if you say that by no stretch of the imagination can you describe something or someone in a particular way, you mean that this way of describing them is certainly not correct She was never a great player, not by any stretch of the imagination. He's pleasant looking but by no stretch of the imagination could you describe him as handsome.

See bend the rules

See also: any, imagination

at full stretch  (British)

if someone or something is at full stretch, they are working as hard as possible The emergency services are working at full stretch to cope with the accident. When the plant is operating at full stretch it can employ 800 people.

See also: full

bend/stretch the rules

to do something or to allow someone to do something which is not usually allowed We don't usually let students take books away, but I'm willing to bend the rules on this occasion.

See also: bend, rule

the home stretch

the last part of a long or difficult activity We've been working on the project for six months, but we're in the home stretch now.

See also: home

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at a stretch

continuously on end Sometimes I work for ten hours at a stretch. I can't concentrate for more than 15 minutes at a stretch.

bend the rules

to allow something to be done that is not usually allowed We don't usually let students take books home, but I'll bend the rules this time.

See also: bend, rule

not by any stretch (of the imagination) also by no stretch (of the imagination)

even if you try, it is still difficult to accept She was never a great player, not by any stretch of the imagination. He's nice-looking but by no stretch of the imagination could you describe him as handsome. Our survey was purely random and by no stretch scientific.

Usage notes: sometimes used in the form by any stretch (of the imagination) (even possibly): It's the only plan that could, by any stretch, be relied upon to work.

See also: any

stretch your legs

to move around after having to be in one place or position for a long time We drove there in five hours, including a couple of stops to stretch our legs.

See also: leg