stretch
verb
uk/stretʃ/ us [ I ]
if money or other resources stretch to something, they are enough to buy or pay for something:
MPs and many within the pensions industry are concerned £400m will not stretch far enough.
stretch to sth Our budget won't stretch to hiring any new workers.
[ T ]
to make money or resources last longer than was originally planned:
City officials are currently struggling with how to stretch limited water supplies.
[ T ]
if something stretches money or other resources, it uses nearly all the money or resources available so that there is very little left:
be stretched to breaking point/the limit The aviation infrastructure has been stretched to breaking point.
be stretched thin When people and funding are stretched thin, companies may find they're not putting enough resources behind the ideas that promise the greatest shareholder returns.
stretch a budget/finances The takeover will stretch the company's finances.
[ T ] MARKETING
to use a brand that already exists to sell new and different products and services:
The company is trying to stretch its brand to cover anything that can be sold online.
[ T ]
to force someone to use all their intelligence or skills:
My current job isn't really stretching me enough.
stretch
noun
uk/stretʃ/ us a stretch
used to describe something that you think will be very difficult to achieve, very expensive, etc.:
The price tag on the business may prove to be a stretch.
20 hours/5 days/6 weeks, etc. at a stretch
if you do something for 20 hours, etc. at a stretch, you do it continuously for that period of time:
Workers on an oil rig often do 12-hour days for 14 days at a stretch.
work/be at full stretch
to be working as hard as you possibly can:
OPEC members are at full stretch and cannot pump more oil.