down to the short strokes

Meanings

1. In the final steps or decisive phase of an undertaking, especially one which has been lengthy or laborious.

1. To the final steps or decisive phase of an undertaking, especially one which has been lengthy or laborious.

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.