the stretch

noun

: the final straight part of a racecourse before the finish line

the horses are in the (final) stretch

—often used figuratively

She's in the final stretch. The baby's due next month.

They will wind up the season with a winning record having won some crucial games down the stretch.

Examples of the stretch in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The teams traded blows throughout the night, but especially down the stretch. —Blair Kerkhoff, Kansas City Star, 14 Mar. 2026

Dowdle responded to criticism of his performance down the stretch on social media on Friday, seemingly taking a shot at coach Dave Canales’ offensive play-calling. —Mike Kaye updated March 13, Charlotte Observer, 13 Mar. 2026

Oak Ridge, which finished 20-10 in a rollercoaster season against a tough schedule, went scoreless for nearly five minutes down the stretch. —Buddy Collings, The Orlando Sentinel, 13 Mar. 2026

Kamau’s experience down the stretch was different. —Assistant Sports Editor, Los Angeles Times, 13 Mar. 2026

Rhymes for the stretch

• etch
• fetch
• fletch
• ketch
• sketch
• vetch
• wretch