At full stretch Definition 1 of 2Pro Tip 1/3Maximum Effort It means someone is working as hard as they possibly can. During exam week, every student was at full stretch revising. Pro Tip 2/3Not Literal The phrase doesn't always mean physical stretching; it can refer to effort or capacity. Our team is at full stretch trying to meet the deadline. Pro Tip 3/3Intensity Context Often used to describe a situation with high pressure or intensity. The rescue team was at full stretch during the flood.