At a Stretch, Down the Home Stretch
To stretch is to extend something. The noun covers a length of road, a period of time and, in slang, a prison sentence.
To stretch is to extend something in length or to reach out. The noun does more work than the verb: a *stretch* of road, a *stretch* in prison, working for hours *at a stretch*, and the *home stretch* — the final straight of a racecourse, borrowed for the end of any long effort.
- To extend. *Stretch the fabric.*
- A continuous length. *A stretch of coastline.*
- A continuous period. *Eight hours at a stretch.*
- A prison sentence (slang). *A five-year stretch.*
Word forms
| Form | Word | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Verb | stretch | Stretch before running. |
| Past | stretched | Stretched thin. |
| Noun | stretch | A long stretch. |
| Adjective | stretchy | A stretchy fabric. |
| Phrase | at a stretch | Two hours at a stretch. |
How it is used in a sentence
- A beautiful stretch of river.A length.
- We are on the home stretch.Nearly finished.
- That is stretching the truth.Exaggerating.
Stretch phrases
- At a stretch — continuously, or only just possible
- Home stretch — the final phase
- Stretch a point — allow an exception
- Stretched thin — with resources spread too far
- Stretch target — a goal deliberately set beyond the expected
From Old English *streccan*, to extend. The racecourse sense of a straight length gave English the home stretch, which is American in origin.
What does *at a stretch* mean?
Two things: continuously, as in six hours at a stretch, and only with difficulty, as in it seats five at a stretch.
Should you stretch before exercise?
Current advice favours a gradual warm-up and dynamic movement before activity, with static stretching more useful afterwards.