down to the short strokes

English

Etymology

Possibly an allusion to painting, in which a painter typically finishes a work with short, careful, finishing strokes of the paint brush, or to golf, in which a player concludes each hole by making short strokes with a putter. In swimming competition, as a swimmer nearly reaches a wall to turn or to finish, the competitor might take a shorter stroke to start the turn smoothly, or to finish faster.

Pronunciation

Audio (General Australian): (file)

Adjective

down to the short strokes

(idiomatic) In the final steps or decisive phase of an undertaking, especially one which has been lengthy or laborious.
- 1992 June 10, “Bembenek Doe near completion”, in Milwaukee Sentinel, retrieved 29 May 2009, page 12A:
  "I would say we are down to the short strokes, down to the cleanup phase" of the investigation, said E. Campion Kersten, a Fox Point lawyer.

Adverb

down to the short strokes

(idiomatic) To the final steps or decisive phase of an undertaking, especially one which has been lengthy or laborious.
- 1960 July 14, Arthur Edson, “Lyndon's Knack Gets Test”, in Milwaukee Sentinal, retrieved 29 May 2009, page 7:
  "You should never count Lyndon out," Nixon said. "When it comes down to the short strokes, there's no one who can handle them better than Lyndon Johnson.
- 1995 June 26, William Safire, “Essay: Reading Bill's Mind”, in New York Times, retrieved 29 May 2009:
  When the budget negotiations get down to the short strokes in October, should I cave or take the "train wreck"?
- 2003 November 13, “Angry Tories protest outside Harper-MacKay meeting”, in CTV.ca/Canadian Press, retrieved 29 May 2009:
  Anyone who wants to vote on delegates who will then decide whether to ratify the deal must have a membership by the end of this week. "It's getting down to the short strokes," MacKay said.

Synonyms

down to the wire