backstretch
|back-stretch|
/ˈbæk.strɛtʃ/
rear straight of a racetrack / later stage
Etymology
'backstretch' is a compound of 'back' + 'stretch' in English; 'back' comes from Old English 'bæc' meaning 'rear' or 'behind', and 'stretch' comes from Old English 'streccan' meaning 'to stretch out' (hence 'a stretched-out part' of a track).
'back' (Old English 'bæc') and 'stretch' (Old English 'streccan') were independently used in English; in the 19th century in American racing contexts the two elements were joined to form the compound 'backstretch' referring specifically to the opposite straight of the grandstand, and the term entered broader usage thereafter.
Initially it meant the literal 'stretched-out' portion of a racetrack on the back side; over time it also acquired a figurative sense referring to the later stage of an activity or project.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
the straight portion of a racetrack on the side opposite the grandstand; the long straightaway between turns in horse racing and auto racing.
The jockeys pushed their mounts harder as they entered the backstretch.
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Noun 2
a figurative use meaning the later stage or middle-to-late portion of an event, project, or process (often used with the preposition 'on' as in 'on the backstretch').
We're finally on the backstretch of the renovation — most of the heavy work is done.
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Last updated: 2025/12/27 20:44