What is "home stretch"

Stretch \Stretch\, n.

1. Act of stretching, or state of being stretched; reach; effort; struggle; strain; as, a stretch of the limbs; a stretch of the imagination.

   By stretch of arms the distant shore to gain.
   --Dryden.

   Those put a lawful authority upon the stretch, to the abuse of yower, under the color of prerogative.
   --L'Estrange.

2. A continuous line or surface; a continuous space of time; as, grassy stretches of land.

   A great stretch of cultivated country.
   --W. Black.

   But all of them left me a week at a stretch.
   --E. Eggleston.

3. The extent to which anything may be stretched.

   Quotations, in their utmost stretch, can signify no more than that Luther lay under severe agonies of mind.
   --Atterbury.

   This is the utmost stretch that nature can.
   --Granville.

4. (Naut.) The reach or extent of a vessel's progress on one tack; a tack or board.

5. Course; direction; as, the stretch of seams of coal.

   To be on the stretch, to be obliged to use one's utmost powers.

   Home stretch. See under Home, a.

Home \Home\, a.

1. Of or pertaining to one's dwelling or country; domestic; not foreign; as home manufactures; home comforts.

2. Close; personal; pointed; as, a home thrust.

3. (Games) In various games, the ultimate point aimed at in a progress; goal; as:

   1. (Baseball) The plate at which the batter stands; same as home base and home plate.

   2. (Lacrosse) The place of a player in front of an opponent's goal; also, the player.

      Home base or Home plate (Baseball), the base at which the batter stands when batting, and which is the last base to be reached in scoring a run.

      Home farm, grounds, etc., the farm, grounds, etc., adjacent to the residence of the owner.

      Home lot, an inclosed plot on which the owner's home stands. [U. S.]

      Home rule, rule or government of an appendent or dependent country, as to all local and internal legislation, by means of a governing power vested in the people within the country itself, in contradistinction to a government established by the dominant country; as, home rule in Ireland. Also used adjectively; as, home-rule members of Parliament.

      Home ruler, one who favors or advocates home rule.

      Home stretch (Sport.), that part of a race course between the last curve and the winning post.

      Home thrust, a well directed or effective thrust; one that wounds in a vital part; hence, in controversy, a personal attack.

alt. 1 The final part of a race course from the last curve to the finish line. 2 (context idiomatic English) The final part of a distance or the final effort needed to finish. n. 1 The final part of a race course from the last curve to the finish line. 2 (context idiomatic English) The final part of a distance or the final effort needed to finish.