stride

Universal Words verb, noun verb (past tense strode prep.] to walk with long steps in a particular direction: We strode across the snowy fields. * She came striding along to meet me. noun 1 one long step; the distance covered by a step: He crossed the room in two strides. * I was gaining on the other runners with every stride. 2 your way of walking or running: his familiar purposeful stride * She did not slow her stride until she was face to face with us. 3 an improvement in the way sth is developing: We're making great strides in the search for a cure. IDIOMS get into your stride )BrE( )AmE hit (your) stride( to begin to do sth with confidence and at a good speed after a slow, uncertain start: After a nervous start, he finally got into his stride in the second set. put sb off their stride to make sb take their attention off what they are doing and stop doing it so well: The shouting from the back of the hall completely put me off my stride. )match sb( stride for stride to keep doing sth as well as sb else, even though they keep making it harder for you: We've managed to match our closest competitors stride for stride as regards prices. take sth in your stride )BrE( )AmE take sth in stride( to accept and deal with sth difficult without letting it worry you too much: It's going to be tough-but I'm sure you'll take it all in your stride. without breaking stride )especially AmE( without stopping what you are doing