down the stretch
In closing moments
Down the stretch refers to the final portion of a race, competition, or extended effort—the last straight section of a racetrack before the finish line.
The phrase extends to any concluding phase where outcomes are determined: The team played well down the stretch, Down the stretch, she pulled ahead in the polls.
It implies sustained effort when it matters most.
- homestretchLast portion before completion
- final lapRace's concluding revolution
- finish lineRace completion marker
- crunch timeHigh-pressure final stretch
- closingFinal stage of something
sprint · race · endgame · make or break · wire · wire to wire · clutch · decisive · push · drive · neck and neck · photo finish · kick · surge · momentum · final push · pressure · stakes
- racing termsbackstretch, checkered flag, daily double, dead heat, exacta
- Horse Idiomshold your horses, dark horse, high horse, straight from the horse's mouth, horse sense
down the stretchat the beginning
At the start
from the start · in the beginning · off the line · from the get-go · initially
down, stretch, downer, downs, downed, downing, stretched, stretches, stretching