Significato: at a stretch

di fila, ininterrottamente, di seguito, difilato

tret Idioma

by any stretch...

(See not by any stretch of the imagination)

not by any stretch of the imagination

not adding to the story, not stretching it Gigi wasn't his only girl, not by any stretch of the imagination.

stretch a point

agree to something beyond the limit of what is normally allowed I think it is stretching a point to think you can go and take a two-hour lunch break.

stretch the dollar

spend carefully, buy the most for each dollar We have a large family. I stretch the dollar as far as I can.

stretch the envelope

extend the boundaries, expand your horizons I've set some goals that stretch my envelope - challenge me.

stretch the truth

add to a true story, include lies with the truth Al was stretching the truth. He said the waves were 60 feet high.

stretching it

saying it was bigger or better than it was To say the mosquitoes are as big as starlings is stretching it.

that's stretching it

that is adding to the story, stretching it Did he say there were fifty flying saucers? That's stretching it.

stretch out

1．extend 伸出
The little boy stretched out his hands to catch the toy．小男孩伸出双手去抓玩具。
He stretched out his arms and embraced me tightly．他伸出双臂紧紧拥抱了我。
2．extend one's body or part of it for relaxation 伸直四肢
He stretched out on the grass in the sunshine．他舒展着身子躺在阳光下的草地上。
The cat stretched out in front of the fire．猫伸直身体躺在炉前。
3．be enough or cause sth．to be enough 使够用
Will the food stretch out？Tonight we've got three extra guests for dinner．饭菜够吃吗？今晚我们多了3个客人吃饭。
I don't see how I can stretch out the housekeeping to the end of the month．我不知道家用钱要怎么安排才能维持到月底。

stretch one's legs

Idiom(s): stretch one's legs

Theme: MOVEMENT

to walk around after sitting down or lying down for a time.
• We wanted to stretch our legs during the theater interval.
• After sitting in the car all day, the travelers decided to stretch their legs.

at a stretch

Idiom(s): at a stretch

Theme: CONTINUOUSLY

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.

stretch the point

Idiom(s): stretch a point AND stretch the point

Theme: EXAGGERATION

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.

Home stretch

The home stretch is the last part of something, like a journey, race or project.

do a stretch|do|stretch

v. phr. To spend time in jail serving one's sentence. Jake has disappeared from view for a while; he is doing a stretch for dope smuggling.

stretch a point|point|strain|strain a point|stretc

v. phr. To permit something different or more than usual; not tell the exact truth or make an exception. Mother stretched a point because it was Christmas time and let the children stay up later than usual. It's straining a point to call Joe a hero just because he saved the kitten from drowning in the bathtub.

stretch of the imagination|imagination|stretch

n. phr. Imaginative attempt or effort. By no stretch of the imagination can I see Al as a successful lawyer.

by any stretch

by any stretch
Beyond ordinary limits, especially of the imagination. For example, She could not, by any stretch of the imagination, be considered a great actress. The phrase sometimes is put in the negative, by no stretch, as in By no stretch can that work be called an opera. [Late 1700s]

by no stretch

by no stretch
see by any stretch.

stretch

stretch
In addition to the idioms beginning with stretch, also see at a stretch; by any stretch.
* * *
- stretch a point
- stretch one's legs