- stretch
- stretch stretch [stretʆ] verb1. [transitive] FINANCE if something stretches an amount of money or a supply of something, it uses it up so you have hardly enough for your needs:
• Our finances are stretched to the limit.
2. [intransitive, transitive] FINANCE to make an amount of money last longer than usual by being careful how it is spent and not wasting it:• All departments are having to stretch their budgets.
3. [intransitive, transitive] MARKETING if a company stretches a brand, it starts to use an existing brand name on a different type of product, hoping that people will buy it because they recognize the name:• Following Coca-Cola's decision to market clothes, people asked how far a brand can be stretched.
* * *
Ⅰ.stretch UK US /stretʃ/ verb► [I] if money or other resources stretch to something, they are enough to buy or pay for something: »MPs and many within the pensions industry are concerned £400m will not stretch far enough.
stretch to sth »Our budget won't stretch to hiring any new workers.
► [T] to make money or resources last longer than was originally planned: »City officials are currently struggling with how to stretch limited water supplies.
► [T] if something stretches money or other resources, it uses nearly all the money or resources available so that there is very little left: be stretched to breaking point/the limit »The aviation infrastructure has been stretched to breaking point.
be stretched thin »When people and funding are stretched thin, companies may find they're not putting enough resources behind the ideas that promise the greatest shareholder returns.
stretch a budget/finances »The takeover will stretch the company's finances.
► [T] MARKETING to use a brand that already exists to sell new and different products and services: »The company is trying to stretch its brand to cover anything that can be sold online.
► [T] to force someone to use all their intelligence or skills: »My current job isn't really stretching me enough.
Ⅱ.stretch UK US /stretʃ/ noun
Financial and business terms. 2012.