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

Chicago appears to value Fleming beyond his brief major league sample this season and the team might see him as a potential starter in their own minor league system or for the big-league club down the stretch. — Peter Chawaga, Forbes.com, 10 July 2026

Askarov had an up-and-down 2025-26 season, his first as a full-time NHL player, and mostly faded down the stretch. — Curtis Pashelka, Mercury News, 7 July 2026

Their fortunes will likely still be tethered to each other down the stretch. — Grant Brisbee, New York Times, 7 July 2026

Peterson hit a deep 3 and short shot in the paint in the fourth quarter to keep the Jazz comfortably ahead down the stretch. — Gary Bedore, Kansas City Star, 7 July 2026

Rhymes for the stretch

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