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View synonyms for long shot

long shot

[ lawng shot, long ]

noun

  1. a horse, team, etc., that has little chance of winning and carries long odds.
  2. an attempt or undertaking that offers much but in which there is little chance for success:

    Getting tickets at this late date is a long shot, but I'll give it a whirl.

  3. Movies, Television. a camera shot taken at a relatively great distance from the subject and permitting a broad view of a scene. Compare close-up ( def 2 ), medium shot.


long shot

noun

  1. a competitor, as in a race, considered to be unlikely to win
  2. a bet against heavy odds
  3. an undertaking, guess, or possibility with little chance of success
  4. films television a shot where the camera is or appears to be distant from the object to be photographed
  5. by a long shot
    by any means

    he still hasn't finished by a long shot

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Word History and Origins

Origin of long shot1

First recorded in 1785–95
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Idioms and Phrases

Idioms
  1. by a long shot, by any means; by a measurable degree (usually used in the negative):

    They haven't finished by a long shot.

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Example Sentences

Though, she thinks it’s probably a long shot.

It’s a long shot and something that will take years, but if we storytellers don’t try, who the hell will?

From Salon

Over the span of a year, I’ve seen Jurado’s remarkable journey from political long shot to surprise winner to history maker.

Republicans appear likely to retain control of the House of Representatives, but that remains unclear and Democrats could have a long shot path to taking power.

At 2-6 it is a long shot Winston can do the same but he has at least brought the team to life.

From BBC

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Related Words

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.

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