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general::
verb pull sth tight ADV. taut/tautly, tight/tightly Make sure that the rope is stretched tight. Stretch the fabric tightly over the frame. PREP. across, between, over Striped awnings had been stretched across the courtyard. your body/part of the body ADV. gently | lazily, luxuriously He stirred and stretched lazily. | full-length Andrea turned out the light and stretched full-length on the bed. | down, forwards, out, up, upwards She stretched up to reach the top shelf. cover a large area ADV. far The wood does not stretch very far. | endlessly | ahead, away The road stretched ahead. VERB + STRETCH seem to The beach seemed to stretch endlessly. PREP. along, beyond, for The beach stretches for five miles. | from, into, to an area which stretches from London to the north continue over a period of time ADV. endlessly | back, out The town's history stretches back to before 1500. PREP. before Endless summer days stretched out before us. | into The talks look set to stretch into a second week. your ability/intelligence ADV. really | fully We can't take on any more work?we're fully stretched as it is. PREP. to This department is stretched to its limit., noun area of land or water ADJ. great, huge, large, long, open, vast, wide A great stretch of ocean lay beneath them. | narrow, short, small | straight a straight stretch of road | continuous, unbroken | beautiful, lovely | deserted, empty, lonely an empty stretch of beach | fast | dangerous, hazardous | coastal a wild uninhabited coastal stretch PREP. along a/the ~ There are tailbacks along a 10-mile stretch of the motorway. | on a/the ~ The festival is being held on a stretch of parkland near the river. | ~ of stretching ADJ. good | gentle VERB + STRETCH have Have a good stretch from time to time to prevent yourself getting stiff. PHRASES at full stretch Her arms were at full stretch.
Oxford Collocations Dictionary