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by any stretch (of the imagination)
by any stretch (of the imagination)
01
used to refer to something that is impossible or is extremely hard to imagine or obtain
Idiom
Informal
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.
Examples
By no stretch of the imagination does the factory operate efficiently.
