stick the landing

Originating from gymnastics, "stick the landing" describes achieving a smooth and flawless finish, both literally in sports and metaphorically in various contexts.

πŸ‡ΊπŸ‡Έ US Voice:
πŸ‡¬πŸ‡§ UK Voice:

Definition

B2Gymnastics and other sports

(technical)To land firmly and stably on both feet after a jump or routine.

Example

  • The gymnast managed to stick the landing perfectly after her routine.
  • In skateboarding, it's important to stick the landing after performing a trick.

B2Aviation and astronautics

(technical)To execute a flawless landing of an aircraft, rocket, or space capsule.

Example

  • The pilot was able to stick the landing despite the turbulent weather conditions.
  • The mission was a success as the spacecraft stuck the landing on the designated spot.

B2General usage

(informal, idiomatic)To complete a challenging task or process in an impressive and conclusive manner.

Example

  • The team worked hard to stick the landing on their latest project.
  • Her presentation was well-prepared and she really stuck the landing.

Similar

Terms that have similar or relatively close meanings to "stick the landing":

three-point landingland onstick downhappy landingssoft landingstick tofoot sticktouch downstick withnail itbelly flopsplash downhard landing