hit one’s stride

[ad_1] verb (used without object), strode, strid·den [strid-n] /ˈstrɪd n/, strid·ing.

1. to walk with long steps, as with vigor, haste, impatience, or arrogance.
2. to take a long step: to stride across a puddle.
3. to straddle.

verb (used with object), strode, strid·den [strid-n] /ˈstrɪd n/, strid·ing.

4. to walk with long steps along, on, through, over, etc.: to stride the deck.
5. to pass over or across in one long step: to stride a ditch.
6. to straddle.

noun

7. a striding manner or a striding gait.
8. a long step in walking.
9. (in animal locomotion) the act of progressive movement completed when all the feet are returned to the same relative position as at the beginning.
10. the distance covered by such a movement: He was walking a stride or two ahead of the others.
11. a regular or steady course, pace, etc.
12. a step forward in development or progress: rapid strides in mastering algebra.

Idioms

13. hit one’s stride,
    1. to achieve a regular or steady pace or course.
    2. to reach the point or level at which one functions most competently and consistently: The quarterback didn’t hit his stride until the second half of the game.
14. strides, (used with a plural verb) Australian Informal. trousers.
15. take in stride, to deal with calmly; cope with successfully: She was able to take her sudden rise to fame in stride.

noun

1. a long step or pace
2. the space measured by such a step
3. a striding gait
4. an act of forward movement by an animal, completed when the legs have returned to their initial relative positions
5. progress or development (esp in the phrase make rapid strides)
6. a regular pace or rate of progressto get into one’s stride; to be put off one’s stride
7. rowing the distance covered between strokes
8. Also called: stride piano jazz a piano style characterized by single bass notes on the first and third beats and chords on the second and fourth
9. (plural) informal, mainly Australian men’s trousers
10. take something in one’s stride to do something without difficulty or effort

verb strides, striding, strode or stridden

11. (intr) to walk with long regular or measured paces, as in haste, etc
12. (tr) to cover or traverse by stridinghe strode thirty miles
13. (often foll by over, across, etc) to cross (over a space, obstacle, etc) with a stride
14. (intr) rowing to achieve the desired rhythm in a racing shell

v.

Old English stridan “to straddle,” from Proto-Germanic *stridanan (cf. Middle Low German strede “stride,” Dutch strijd, Old High German strit, German Streit “fight, contention, combat,” Old Norse striðr “strong, hard, stubborn, severe”), from root *strid- “to strive, make a strong effort.” Meaning “to walk with long or extended steps” is from c.1200. Cognate words in most Germanic languages mean “to fight, struggle;” the notion behind the English usage might be the effort involved in making long strides, striving forward.

n.

“a step in walking,” Old English stride, from the root of stride (v.). Figurative meaning in make strides “make progress” is from c.1600. To take (something) in stride (1832), i.e. “without change of gait,” originally is of horses leaping hedges in the hunting-field; figurative sense attested from 1902. Jazz music stride tempo is attested from 1938.

1

Achieve a steady, effective pace, as in After the first few laps around the track he hit his stride. This expression comes from horse racing, stride alluding to the regular pace of the horse. [Early 1900s]

2

Attain a maximum level of competence, as in Jack didn’t really hit his stride until he started college. [First half of 1900s]

see hit one’s stride; make great strides; take in stride.

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