stretch thin

English

Verb

stretch thin (third-person singular simple present stretches thin, present participle stretching thin, simple past and past participle stretched thin)

1. To spread the resources of too far.
   • 2019 May 8, Barney Ronay, “Liverpool’s waves of red fury and recklessness end in joyous bedlam”, in The Guardian‎:

     Barcelona had been harried and hurried and stretched thin by the midway point in the second half. Tackles flew in. Toes were crushed, shins barked, ankles hacked.

   • 2022 September 9, Sameer Yasir, “2 Years After Deadly Fistfights, India and China Pull Back From Border”, in The New York Times‎, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 9 September 2022, Asia Pacific‎:

     Among the remaining contention points between the two armies is an eastern region called the Depsang Plains. Military analysts said that the Chinese Army was not allowing Indian troops to patrol in that area, even though they have done so for decades. While India’s military is already stretched thin, said Saurav Jha, editor in chief of the Delhi Defense Review, it still needs to keep up a permanent patrol to deter China.

   • 2025 September 20, Mike Henson, “Kildunne stars as England see off France to make final”, in BBC Sport‎:

     Centre Konde dived over to cut the hosts' lead to 7-5 as England's goalline defence was finally stretched thin after Arbey's break down the opposite wing.