stretch, v. — Green’s Dictionary of Slang (2024)

Table of Contents
stretch v. SE in slang uses

stretch v.

1. to hang, to be hanged; thus stretcher n., a hangman [abbr. SE stretch one’s neck].

Show quotations
stretch, v. — Green’s Dictionary of Slang (1)G. Gascoigne (trans.) Supposes IV ii: A rope stretch you, marry [...] Thou wilt be hanged, I warrant thee.
stretch, v. — Green’s Dictionary of Slang (2)‘W.S.’ Lamentable Tragedie of Locrine II ii: Here good fellow take it at my command, Vnlesse you meane to be stretcht.
stretch, v. — Green’s Dictionary of Slang (3)Rowlands Humours Ordinarie G: Or else heele haue it with a fiue and a reach, Although it cost his necke the Halter stretch.
stretch, v. — Green’s Dictionary of Slang (4)Beaumont & Fletcher Coxcomb V i: Either of which, if I can catch, shall stretch for ’t.
stretch, v. — Green’s Dictionary of Slang (5)J. Mabbe (trans.) Life of Guzman Pt I Bk I 7: I would willingly indure thy taunts [...] though my owne father should stretch for it, and giue the Gallowes it’s first handsell.
stretch, v. — Green’s Dictionary of Slang (6)F. Quarles Virgin Widow V i: A halter stretch ye.
stretch, v. — Green’s Dictionary of Slang (7)Witts Recreations Epigram No. 167: Cacus in’s cunning ne’r so prov’d o’r-reacht As now at last, who must be halter-stretcht.
stretch, v. — Green’s Dictionary of Slang (8) ‘The Golden Farmer’s Last Farewell’ in Ebsworth Bagford Ballads (1878) I 244: A most notorious Wretch, / I many years have been, / For which I now at length must stretch, / A just Reward for Sin.
stretch, v. — Green’s Dictionary of Slang (9)B.E. Dict. Canting Crew n.p.: He’ll Stretch for it, he’ll be Hang’d.
stretch, v. — Green’s Dictionary of Slang (10) in D’Urfey Pills to Purge Melancholy V 69: Then Lutener’s-lane a gay Couple did bring, / Two better, I think, was ne’er stretch’d in hemp-string.
stretch, v. — Green’s Dictionary of Slang (11)New Canting Dict. [as cit. c.1698].
,,,stretch, v. — Green’s Dictionary of Slang (12)Bailey Universal Etym. Eng. Dict. [as cit. c.1698].
stretch, v. — Green’s Dictionary of Slang (13)Swift Polite Conversation 29: (Colonel stretching himself.) lady sm.: Why, Colonel, you break the King’s Laws, you stretch without a Halter.
stretch, v. — Green’s Dictionary of Slang (14)Bridges Burlesque Homer (3rd edn) 527: Bold rogues as ever stretch’d a string.
stretch, v. — Green’s Dictionary of Slang (15) in Irish Songster [song title] De Night before Larry was Stretch’d.
stretch, v. — Green’s Dictionary of Slang (16) ‘Larry’s Stiff’ Luke Caffrey’s Gost 6: As soon as poor Larry was stretche’d, / De boys de soon cut him down proper.
stretch, v. — Green’s Dictionary of Slang (17)‘Newgate Melody’ in Morn. Post 17 Apr. 3/4: The Jury and the judge, oh Jack Ketch! / Have agreed that Tim Higgins must stretch.
stretch, v. — Green’s Dictionary of Slang (18) ‘James O’Bryan, the Informer’ in Croker Memoirs of Joseph Holt I 311: Oh! de night before Jemmy was stretch’d, / De spies de all ped him a visit.
stretch, v. — Green’s Dictionary of Slang (19)S. Lover Handy Andy 293: ‘The Night before Larry was stretched,’ was done by a bishop, they say.
stretch, v. — Green’s Dictionary of Slang (20)E. de la Bédollière Londres et les Anglais 318/1: stretch, He’ll stretch for it, il sera pendu pour cela.
,,stretch, v. — Green’s Dictionary of Slang (21)Hotten Sl. Dict. 248: STRETCH, abbreviation of ‘stretch one’s neck,’ to hang.
stretch, v. — Green’s Dictionary of Slang (22)Australasian (Melbourne) 17 July 8/5: [T]o to be hanged is to be topped, tucked up, turned up, stretched.
stretch, v. — Green’s Dictionary of Slang (23)Nat. Police Gaz. (NY) 16 Oct. 7/1: The mob outside greeted the prisoner with cries of ‘Hang him!’ ‘Stretch him up’.
stretch, v. — Green’s Dictionary of Slang (24)Crowe Aus. Sl. Dict. 82: Stretched, hanged.
stretch, v. — Green’s Dictionary of Slang (25)F.W. Carew Autobiog. of a Gipsey 198: You old, smuggling horse-thief, you’ve put the double on me often enough, but I’ll stretch you for this job.
stretch, v. — Green’s Dictionary of Slang (26)J.M. Synge Playboy of the Western World Act III: shawn: Come on to the peelers till they stretch you now. / christy: Me! / michael: ...you’d best come easy, for hanging is an easy and a speedy end.
stretch, v. — Green’s Dictionary of Slang (27)D. Hammett Red Harvest (1965) 33: If what the Willsson dame gives us ain’t enough to stretch him, I’m a pickpocket.
stretch, v. — Green’s Dictionary of Slang (28)Z. Grey Robbers’ Roost 231: Hays, that’s your last morning’s stretch . . . Before this day’s done you’ll stretch forever!
stretch, v. — Green’s Dictionary of Slang (29)A.J. Pollock Und. Speaks n.p.: Stretcher, the hangman (prison).
stretch, v. — Green’s Dictionary of Slang (30)‘Flann O’Brien’ Third Policeman (1974) 85: ‘There is no option but to stretch you for the serious offence.’ ‘Stretch me?’ ‘Hang you by the windpipe before high breakfast time.’.
stretch, v. — Green’s Dictionary of Slang (31)Goldin et al. DAUL 213/2: Stretch, v. [...] 2. To hang; to lynch.
stretch, v. — Green’s Dictionary of Slang (32)Ragen & Finston World’s Toughest Prison 820: stretch – To hang a person.

2. to lie.

Show quotations
stretch, v. — Green’s Dictionary of Slang (33)E. de la Bédollière Londres et les Anglais 318/1: stretch, [...] se dit aussi pour mentir. He stretched stoutly, il a fameusem*nt menti.

3. (also stretch out) to knock down, to kill [SE stretch (someone) out on the ground].

Show quotations
stretch, v. — Green’s Dictionary of Slang (34)W.G. Simms Forayers 195: Benny Bowlegs [...] has already knocked over half a dozen more, and I have stretched out as many.
stretch, v. — Green’s Dictionary of Slang (35)Rockhampton Bull. (Qld) 2 Oct. 2/6: Tierney got an axe [...] and struck the women with it so violently as to cut her nose, black both eyes, and ‘stretch’ her o the ground.
stretch, v. — Green’s Dictionary of Slang (36)‘Old Calabar’ Won in a Canter I 159: ‘[T]hey stretched poor O’Callahan [...] yesterday in broad day-light in the bog, and l’m on the jury’.
stretch, v. — Green’s Dictionary of Slang (37)W.B. Churchward Blackbirding In The South Pacific 35: If a man got stretched in a grog shop, the ‘boss’ would only throw him out into the road, whether dead or alive.
stretch, v. — Green’s Dictionary of Slang (38)Kipling ‘The Shawdow of His Hand’ in 2 Aug. (1909) 42: Lot stretched him.
stretch, v. — Green’s Dictionary of Slang (39)Kipling ‘The Big Drunk Draf’’ in Soldiers Three (1907) 35: Wid that I stretched Peg Barney, boot an’ all, an’ wint into the camp.
stretch, v. — Green’s Dictionary of Slang (40)A.H. Lewis Wolfville 55: This yere second Mexican is downed on the run-in [...] Enright, who’s close in, jumps some lead into him an’ stretches him.
stretch, v. — Green’s Dictionary of Slang (41)G.R. Sims In London’s Heart 294: If it hadn’t been for this hound I’d have stretched one of you out.
stretch, v. — Green’s Dictionary of Slang (42)Black Mask Aug. III 14: I’ll stretch you as cold as an old maid’s stare.
stretch, v. — Green’s Dictionary of Slang (43)O. Strange Law O’ The Lariat 158: If the yarns about him is true, he come mighty near bein’ stretched once or twice, an’ his luck can’ last for ever.
stretch, v. — Green’s Dictionary of Slang (44)‘Hal Ellson’ Rock 80: A fight busts out between two more of the boys [...] One gets stretched.
stretch, v. — Green’s Dictionary of Slang (45)D. Niland Shiralee 19: He [...] picked a fight, stretched out his man, and he felt a lot better.
stretch, v. — Green’s Dictionary of Slang (46)T. Thorne (ed.) ‘Drill Slang Glossary’ at Forensic Linguistic Databank 🌐 Stretched, stretchin’ - felled by an attack.

4. of a man, to have sexual intercourse [? link to stretch leather under leather n.].

stretch, v. — Green’s Dictionary of Slang (47)(con. 1940s) G. Mandel Wax Boom 72: How many of you stretched that back-road stuff?

5. see stretch (it)

6. (US drugs) to adulterate and extend the volume of heroin or cocaine with baking soda, etc.

Show quotations
stretch, v. — Green’s Dictionary of Slang (48)R. Woodley Dealer 37: ‘With scag you use something like milk sugar to stretch it’.
stretch, v. — Green’s Dictionary of Slang (49)R. Daley Target Blue 462: One ounce equals about 440 grains. Pure heroin can be hit nine times, scrambled, mixed with milk sugar and stretched [...] one ounce of pure heroin can be stretched to about 4000 grains.
stretch, v. — Green’s Dictionary of Slang (50)T.I. ‘Trap Muzik’ 🎵 Keep the co*ke stretched outLike Carl Lewis' hamstrings / Stepped on like I'm working / With the dance team / Triple beam ain't seen / What I do to a ounce of blow.

7. (US drugs) to fill a vial of crack cocaine.

Show quotations
stretch, v. — Green’s Dictionary of Slang (51)Burns & Price ‘Corner Boys’ Wire ser. 4 ep. 8 [TV script] I’m stretchin’ bottles, mom.

In phrases

stretch someone’s neck (v.)

to hang; thus neck-stretching n. and adj., hanging; get one’s neck stretched v., to be hanged.

Show quotations
stretch, v. — Green’s Dictionary of Slang (52)J.R. Lowell Biglow Papers 2nd series (1880) 10: This world is awfle contrary: the rope may stretch your neck.
stretch, v. — Green’s Dictionary of Slang (53)Sportsman 24 Oct. 4/1: Notes on News [...] They’ll stretch my neck for my cha-ri-tee, / Hon the new drop at the Hold Bai-lee!
stretch, v. — Green’s Dictionary of Slang (54)Hotten Sl. Dict. 248: STRETCH, abbreviation of ‘stretch one’s neck,’ to hang.
stretch, v. — Green’s Dictionary of Slang (55)Chicago Times in Asbury Gangs of Chicago (1940) 91: Nearly a hundred murders since 1865 and not a single neck stretched!
stretch, v. — Green’s Dictionary of Slang (56)Bulletin (Sydney) 2 May 22/4: We strongly object to an altogether unnecessary neck-stretching staff being kept up by the country at a cost of £270 per annum and ‘extras.’.
stretch, v. — Green’s Dictionary of Slang (57)A.H. Lewis Wolfville 216: Either he’s out to throw this party loose, or stretch his neck.
stretch, v. — Green’s Dictionary of Slang (58)W.R. Burnett Little Caesar (1932) 120: You better keep your head working [...] or you’ll get your neck stretched.
stretch, v. — Green’s Dictionary of Slang (59)D. Lamson We Who Are About to Die 153: You’d think he was the [...] first innocent man in history to get his God-damned neck stretched.
stretch, v. — Green’s Dictionary of Slang (60)O. Strange Sudden Takes the Trail 94: If he promises to stretch a fella’s neck he’ll do it, regardless.
stretch, v. — Green’s Dictionary of Slang (61)(con. 1941) C. Chessman Cell 2455 227: I’d probably get my neck stretched for treason.
stretch, v. — Green’s Dictionary of Slang (62)‘Ed McBain’ Killer’s Wedge (1981) 123: I don’t want to see my neck stretched for something somebody else did.
stretch, v. — Green’s Dictionary of Slang (63)J. Byrell 40: Bland was lucky not to have had his neck stretched - but the man he shot dead, Robert Case, was so unpopular [...] that Bland’s plea for leniency was upheld.
stretch (the) hemp (v.) (also pull hemp, stretch a line) [the hempen noose]

to be hanged or to hang oneself.

Show quotations
stretch, v. — Green’s Dictionary of Slang (64)T. More Confutation of Tyndale Answer VIII Pt II 788: Nor fereth to mocke the sacrament the blessed body of god, & full lyke a stretche hempe, call it but cake brede or starche.
stretch, v. — Green’s Dictionary of Slang (65)Hereford Times 5 May 6/5: California Slang.—When they hang fellow to a tree among the diggings, they say, ‘he pulls hemp’.
stretch, v. — Green’s Dictionary of Slang (66)Baltimore Sun (MD) 2 Apr. 1/4: ‘I would rather step right out and pull hemp’ [...] I had rather be hung than go to prison for life.
stretch, v. — Green’s Dictionary of Slang (67)J.H. Green Secret Band of Brothers 46: Yes, he is the very villain. I know enough about him to make him stretch hemp, if he had his dues.
stretch, v. — Green’s Dictionary of Slang (68)‘Edmund Kirke’ Down in Tennessee 86: He’s afeard o’ pullin’ hemp, an’ kingdom come.
stretch, v. — Green’s Dictionary of Slang (69)Northampton Mercury 28 July 7/5: Nothing has equalled for excitement and style the ‘necktie sociable’ when eleven unfortunates ‘pulled hemp’.
stretch, v. — Green’s Dictionary of Slang (70)Lexington Intelligencer (MO) 11 Oct. 2/7: There is little doubt they will find him, and when they do, woe unto Jim Hill, for he will pull hemp, sure as life.
stretch, v. — Green’s Dictionary of Slang (71)St Paul Globe (MN) 28 Nov. 4/5: Glen will beyond all question ‘pull hemp’ either by course of law or mob violence.
stretch, v. — Green’s Dictionary of Slang (72)Nat. Police Gaz. (NY) 12 Dec. 2/2: Eight of Riel’s Indian allies have been hung [...] It is nothing but just that they should stretch hemp.
stretch, v. — Green’s Dictionary of Slang (73)Wkly Times Democrat (New Orleans, LA) 20 Oct. 9/3: He will be captured [and] he will certainly pull hemp.
stretch, v. — Green’s Dictionary of Slang (74)Wkly Advertiser (Montgomery, AL) 1 Mar. 2/4: We agree [...] that it is anout time some white men should be found guilty [...] and allowed to pull hemp.
stretch, v. — Green’s Dictionary of Slang (75)A.J. Barr Let Tomorrow Come 82: They oughta make you stretch a line like this bird Little.
stretch, v. — Green’s Dictionary of Slang (76)O. Strange Sudden 30: If we had a marshal worth a busted nickel, yu’d be stretchin’ hemp right now.
stretch, v. — Green’s Dictionary of Slang (77)Howsley Argot: Dict. of Und. Sl.
stretch, v. — Green’s Dictionary of Slang (78)Goldin et al. DAUL 213/2: Stretch hemp. To pay extreme penalty by hanging.

SE in slang uses

In compounds

stretch one (n.)

(US) a large glass of Coca-Cola.

Show quotations
stretch, v. — Green’s Dictionary of Slang (79)O.O. McIntyre New York Day by Day 12 May [synd. col.] Large coca cola—stretch one.

In phrases

stretch a pipe (v.)

see underpipes n.1

stretch (it) (v.) [SE stretch the truth]

1. to exaggerate, to lie; thus stretching n., lying.

Show quotations
stretch, v. — Green’s Dictionary of Slang (80)B.E. Dict. Canting Crew n.p.: He Stretcht hard, told a whisking Ly.
stretch, v. — Green’s Dictionary of Slang (81)New Canting Dict. [as cit. c.1698].
,,,stretch, v. — Green’s Dictionary of Slang (82)Bailey Universal Etym. Eng. Dict. [as cit. c.1698].
,,stretch, v. — Green’s Dictionary of Slang (83)Grose Classical Dict. of the Vulgar Tongue n.p.: stretching. [...] telling a great lie: he stretched stoutly.
stretch, v. — Green’s Dictionary of Slang (84)Lex. Balatronicum [as cit. 1785].
stretch, v. — Green’s Dictionary of Slang (85)Egan Grose’s Classical Dict. of the Vulgar Tongue.
stretch, v. — Green’s Dictionary of Slang (86)H. Hartigan Stray Leaves (2nd ser.) 290: ‘You may laugh,” said the old man, “and think I'm stretching; but you may rest assured ’tis a fact’.
stretch, v. — Green’s Dictionary of Slang (87)G. Seagram Bushman All 274: Don’t be stretching it, Charlie; sure it’s only three.

2. (US) to run fast.

Show quotations
stretch, v. — Green’s Dictionary of Slang (88)Gleaner (Manchester, NH) 13 May n.p.: With his boots in his hands and bear-headed [sic] he ‘streached it’ down Factory Street [...] much to the merriment of the company.

3. (US) of money, make it last.

Show quotations
stretch, v. — Green’s Dictionary of Slang (89)W.R. Burnett Nobody Lives for Ever 39: [T]aking a ten-dollar bill out of his pocket he put it on the table. ‘Stretch it. It’s my own dough, and I may never get it back’.
stretch out (v.) [jazz use stretch out, to play to one’s limits, with no restraints other than one’s stamina and skill]

1. (US black) to live one’s life without restraint, to act uninhibitedly.

Show quotations
stretch, v. — Green’s Dictionary of Slang (90)N. Heard Howard Street 243: Then I’m gon’ really stretch out tough [...] I’ma have me a Cadillac in no time.

2. see sense 3 above.

stretch some jeans (v.) [the removal of one’s jeans or trousers]

(US prison, esp. hom*osexual) to have sexual intercourse.

Show quotations
stretch, v. — Green’s Dictionary of Slang (91)R.O. Scott Gay Sl. Dict. 🌐 stretch some jeans: [prison sl.] To do the sex act.
stretch someone’s breeches (v.) [the bent-over buttocks tighten the cloth that covers them]

to administer a thrashing.

Show quotations
stretch, v. — Green’s Dictionary of Slang (92)J. Ware Passing Eng. of the Victorian Era 235/1: Stretch his breeches (Peoples’). Said of a boy who has been thrashed. It comes down from the time when the tight leather breech might be fairly said to be stretched when flattened.
stretch, v. — Green’s Dictionary of Slang (2024)
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