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/baɪ ˌɛni nˈəʊ stɹˈɛtʃ ɒvðɪ ɪmˌadʒɪnˈeɪʃən/
/baɪ ˌɛni nˈoʊ stɹˈɛtʃ ʌvðɪ ɪmˌædʒᵻnˈeɪʃən/by any stretch (of the imagination)
What is the origin of the idiom "by any stretch of the imagination" and when to use it?
The phrase "by any stretch of the imagination" is used to qualify the degree to which something is true, feasible, or possible. When "no" is included, it implies that there is absolutely no way to consider something as true or possible. The origin of this phrase is not precisely documented, but it's a common expression used to emphasize the necessity or impossibility of a situation when assessing it from various perspectives.
Example
By no stretch of the imagination does the factory operate efficiently.
I do not know what the interpreter said, but under no circumstances did I mean that I had a problem with you, not by any stretch of the imagination.
Her artistic abilities are exceptional, and by any stretch of the imagination, she's a talented painter.
By any stretch of the imagination, it's impossible to see how this proposal benefits the environment.
This could not by any stretch be seen as a victory.
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