I have not heard the phrase "by any stretch of the word" but I do know that "not by any stretch of the imagination would be used to emphasize that one thing is definitely not the other thing. Here is an example: 1. My friend is a horrible dancer. or Not by any stretch of the imagination is my friend a good dancer. ----- Why? Because it is like saying that there is no way that anyone could ever imagine my friend as a good dancer because he is so horrible at it. ---- Any more questions or clarification, then message me.

...byy any stretch of the imagination. If you stretch your imagination.........I think you ge tthe picture.

By any stretch of the imagination - example: "No! I did not mean that, not by any stretch of the imagination!" Means, no, I did not mean that, not at all. The idea is that no stretching of the imagination, no matter how wide you can stretch out your imagination, such a thought should not be there, that I meant that. I did not mean it at all. (I do not know the other expression, stretch of the word)