Dictionary definition of “stick the landing”

stick the landing

v. phr. to finish an athletic, gymnastic, or other sports performance with an ideal pose or stance, especially after a jump or leap; (hence, also outside of sports) to do or finish well; to win. Subjects: English, Sports & Recreation, Jargon

Editorial Note: This term is part of the jargon of gymnastics, aerial and freestsyle skiing, the long jump, various kinds of boarding, and other similar sports.

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Citations: 1984 Valley Independent (Monessen, Pa.) (Aug. 2) “Gymnastic silver disappoints” (in L.A.) p. 13: But Retton, who uncharacteristically failed to stick the landing of one of her tumbling passes, was able to put it all into perspective. 1994 Jason Grant Los Angeles Times (Sept. 10) “Ventura youth, 14, uncoils his best effort to win world snakeboarding championship in England” p. B1: During the competition, Jay landed the only 720-degree spinning jump of the day. He also said he spun 900 degrees in a practice jump—but failed to “stick the landing.” 1996 Lauren Markoe Patriot Ledger (Quincy, Mass.) (July 31) “Whites Hill development rejected Court challenge virtually assured” p. 15C: The planning board rejected the proposed Whites Hill Estates development last night.…Association member Neil Cronin offered an Olympic analogy: “I feel like we stuck the landing.” 1996 Matt Roush USA Today (Aug. 14) “Convention appeal: A television turnoff” p. 2A: Ted Koppel put it this way: Today’s made-for-TV conventions are to the political process what synchronized swimming is to water polo: “choreographed within an inch of its life.” And to borrow another sports metaphor, you can say this for the Republicans this year: They stuck the landing. 2004 Craig Wack Commercial Appeal (Memphis, Tenn.) (Oct. 8) “Nextel Cup Power Rankings” p. D8: Elliott Sadler…Makes the list after sticking the landing at the Talladega finish line. 2004 Kansas City Star (Kan., Mo.) (Nov. 7) “Cyclones keep North anyone’s guess” (in Ames, Iowa) p. 2-6: Iowa State kept it until the fourth quarter, when Dailey started sticking the landing on his passes. Through three quarters, he had completed only 13 of 33. 2005 Brian Lowry Daily Variety (Jan. 12) “Elektra”: Bringing comicbooks to life always represents a particular challenge, with words and images that don’t quite survive the leap from page to screen. “Elektra” earnestly tries to complete that jump but, once the fighting’s over, can’t quite stick the landing. 2005 Josh Lewin Sporting News (Apr. 15) “You can tell books by these cover” p. 54: Gold. Red Sox. They waited 86 years to slam out a cover that said “championship” somewhere, and they stuck the landing for a perfect score. 2005 Lauren Wilcox Washington Post (Sept. 18) “Strip Search” p. W14: Onstage, the band was twinkle-toeing it toward the big finale. Kluger tore around the skins in a frenzy, the bassist plunking along behind. The keyboardist drew out a tinkling flourish, sticking the landing. 2006 Mark Bradley Atlanta Journal-Constitution (Ga.) (Jan. 28) “Prankster takes over Camp Leo”: There was a little difficulty there—up around a “10” in difficulty.…But I stuck the landing.

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