down to the short strokes
- idiom
- UK
:
en la fase final
- After months of preparation, we're finally down to the short strokes of completing the report.
Examples
-
The team is working diligently, and at this point, we are down to the short strokes before the final presentation.
-
Clay finds art peaceful and can't feel the painter's hot breath as he gets down to the short strokes.
Fiction book (1995) -
As we near the deadline, it's time to focus on the details; we're down to the short strokes of the project.
Antonyms
How Close
Surface Forms
Morphology
down + to + the + short + stroke
The phrase can be partially decoded: 'down to' signals reaching a reduced or final stage and 'short strokes' literally suggests small, careful motions, so a learner who knows the words can infer being at a final, detailed stage of work. However, the expression relies on a metaphorical extension and is not a fully predictable compositional pattern (it echoes idioms like 'down to the last detail'), so full nuance would likely require exposure.
Etymology
Down to the short strokes may come from painting or writing: after the big shapes are finished you are literally down to the short strokes of a brush or pen. Those tiny, careful marks are the last touches, so the phrase means being at the 'final' and most careful stage of a task.