- be stretching something
- to make something seem better or worse than it really isbe stretching it:
It would be stretching the truth to say it was a success.
She's nice, but to call her "delightful" is stretching it a bit.
English dictionary. 2014.
be stretching something
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be stretching something — phrase to make something seem better or worse than it really is It would be stretching the truth to say it was a success. be stretching it: She’s nice, but to call her ‘delightful’ is stretching it a bit. Thesaurus: to make something… … Useful english dictionary
stretch — I UK [stretʃ] / US verb Word forms stretch : present tense I/you/we/they stretch he/she/it stretches present participle stretching past tense stretched past participle stretched *** 1) [transitive] to pull something to make it longer or wider I… … English dictionary
straight — [14] Straight began life as the past participle of stretch. Nowadays this verb has a perfectly normal past form (stretched), but in Middle English it was straught (source of distraught [14], an alteration of distract) or straight – whence the… … The Hutchinson dictionary of word origins
straight — [14] Straight began life as the past participle of stretch. Nowadays this verb has a perfectly normal past form (stretched), but in Middle English it was straught (source of distraught [14], an alteration of distract) or straight – whence the… … Word origins
Procrustean bed — something to which people are forced to conform (from the Greek legend of a robber who altered his victims to fit his bed by stretching them or cutting off their legs) … English contemporary dictionary
stretch — [[t]stre̱tʃ[/t]] ♦♦♦ stretches, stretching, stretched 1) VERB: no cont Something that stretches over an area or distance covers or exists in the whole of that area or distance. [V prep/adv] The procession stretched for several miles... [V… … English dictionary
stretch — stretch1 W3S3 [stretʃ] v ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ 1¦(make something bigger/looser)¦ 2¦(body)¦ 3¦(reach)¦ 4¦(make something tight)¦ 5¦(time/series)¦ 6¦(in space)¦ 7 stretch your legs 8 stretch (somebody s) patience/credulity 9¦(rule/limit)¦ … Dictionary of contemporary English
international relations — a branch of political science dealing with the relations between nations. [1970 75] * * * Study of the relations of states with each other and with international organizations and certain subnational entities (e.g., bureaucracies and political… … Universalium
stretch — stretch1 [ stretʃ ] verb *** ▸ 1 make longer/wider ▸ 2 make smooth/tight ▸ 3 make body part straight ▸ 4 continue in space/time ▸ 5 be/have enough money ▸ 6 use money/supplies ▸ 7 not be reasonable ▸ 8 make someone use ability ▸ 9 make seem… … Usage of the words and phrases in modern English
stretch — 1 verb 1 MAKE STH BIGGER/LOOSER a) (I, T) to make something bigger or looser by pulling it, or to become bigger or looser as a result of being pulled: My big, blue sweater has stretched completely out of shape. b) (intransitive not in… … Longman dictionary of contemporary English
