hit stride

hit (one's) stride

1. To start traveling at a consistent pace. We started out slow but then hit our stride as we continued through the park.
2. To become proficient in a particular area. Once you hit your stride at your new job, I'm sure your boss will be very impressed with you.
See also: hit, stride
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

hit one's stride

1. Achieve a steady, effective pace, as in After the first few laps around the track he hit his stride. This expression comes from horse racing, stride alluding to the regular pace of the horse. [Early 1900s]
2. Attain a maximum level of competence, as in Jack didn't really hit his stride until he started college. [First half of 1900s]
See also: hit, stride
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.

hit (one's) stride

1. To achieve a steady, effective pace.
2. To attain a maximum level of competence.
See also: hit, stride
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition.
See also:
  • hit (one's) stride
  • hit one's stride
  • hit your straps
  • hit (one's) straps
  • reach (one's) stride
  • reach stride
  • stride for stride
  • break (one's) stride
  • break stride
  • plod through (something)
References in periodicals archive
It was not long before both teams were back in stride, but the team that actively engaged in integrating its "new guy" hit stride first and was four baskets up before the other team started scoring regularly again.
Pickup Team Pointers
The mare hit stride over timber and is open to progress after narrow defeat by Premier Rose at Leicester.
MIND THE BHEARNA
The team and their star didn't really hit stride until the closing minutes of that game, but since then Brazil have outscored opponents 4-0 and Neymar has picked up a goal and an assist, giving him 10 goals and nine assists in his 18 games with the national team.
Russian city looking to score a late winner
The yellowfin fishing should get started this month, but really hit stride in April, May and June, so there is time to plan for a trip to West End or Lucaya.
Catching a break
That's surprising perhaps only in that it did $900 million in fiscal 2012, before the Disney Junior network hit stride. "Disney Junior properties are absolutely on fire," say Disney execs.
Licensing by the numbers
Beating an understrength Kilkenny team was imperative, while the landslide win over Galway reaffirmed what they are capable of when they hit stride.
A CHAMPIONSHIP FEEL TO CRUNCH THURLES CLASH
Julio looks a name to watch as the Cheltenham countdown starts to hit stride.
JULIO HOLDS ON IN STYLE; YESTERDAY'S ACTION
9 STEPHEN MCPHAIL Took time to hit stride in his first league start of the season.
BLUEBIRDS' FIVE-GOAL FLOURISH TAMES TYKES
Women's soccer at Carolina is renowned and Duke football is just beginning to hit stride. Visit the campus web sites to plan your trip to our neighborhood.
AAMN conference on tobacco road
It was at four, though, that he really hit stride, winning the Hong Kong Mile and successfully stepping up to 1m2f to land the Derby.
FIRST-SEASON SIRE PROFILE; BLOODSTOCK WORLD
But she hit stride with her anguished outbursts in Act II, the high notes of "Ah!
Hamilton
The real point is that the transformation of China from a Communist economy into a quasi-capitalistic system, which began 25 years ago, is beginning to hit stride. It's going to continue for many more years.
Getting real on China
In these series, Lichtenstein outpaced not only much of his own work, but also much work by other painters who could only hope to hit stride like this once in their career.
Roy Lichtenstein. (Reviews: Los Angeles)
Casting demand is expected to hit stride by mid-year and expand for the next several years.
2001: Consider it a rite of passage. (Editorial)
But then he hit stride during Oakland's run for the A.L.
Pitching Straight A's