2stride noun
plural strides [count] 1 a : a long step
▪ She crossed the room in only a few strides. ▪ As he ran down the field, the defender kept up with him stride for stride. [=the defender ran next to him at the same speed] — sometimes used figuratively ▪ The company has matched its competitors stride for stride. [=has not fallen behind its competitors]
b : the distance covered by a long step
▪ He was standing only a few strides away from me. 2 : a way of walking
▪ He has a distinctive bouncy stride. ▪ She entered the room with a confident stride. 3 : a change or improvement that brings someone closer to a goal — usually plural ▪ Great strides [=advances] have been made in the control of tuberculosis. ▪ The patient is making strides toward a complete recovery.
▪ She crossed the room in only a few strides. ▪ As he ran down the field, the defender kept up with him stride for stride. [=the defender ran next to him at the same speed] — sometimes used figuratively ▪ The company has matched its competitors stride for stride. [=has not fallen behind its competitors]
b : the distance covered by a long step
▪ He was standing only a few strides away from me.
▪ He has a distinctive bouncy stride. ▪ She entered the room with a confident stride.
break (your) stride
chiefly US : to stop walking or running in a regular and steady way
▪ He caught the ball and passed it to a teammate without breaking stride. — often used figuratively ▪ She graduated from college, went to law school, and without breaking stride joined a successful law firm.
▪ He caught the ball and passed it to a teammate without breaking stride. — often used figuratively ▪ She graduated from college, went to law school, and without breaking stride joined a successful law firm.
hit your stride (US) or Brit get into your stride
: to begin to do something in a confident and effective way after starting slowly
▪ Both teams seem to have hit their stride in the second half.
▪ Both teams seem to have hit their stride in the second half.
off stride
◊If you are walking or running and someone or something (chiefly US) throws/knocks you off (your) stride or (chiefly Brit) puts you off your stride, you are unable to continue walking or running steadily.
▪ Another runner bumped into him and threw/knocked him off his stride. These phrases are often used figuratively. ▪ She was surprised and thrown off stride [=thrown off balance] by the unexpected question. ▪ He was working steadily until an interruption put him off his stride.
▪ Another runner bumped into him and threw/knocked him off his stride. These phrases are often used figuratively. ▪ She was surprised and thrown off stride [=thrown off balance] by the unexpected question. ▪ He was working steadily until an interruption put him off his stride.
take (something) in stride (US) or Brit take (something) in your stride
: to deal with (something difficult or upsetting) in a calm way
▪ I thought she'd be upset, but she has taken the news in stride.
▪ I thought she'd be upset, but she has taken the news in stride.
