long shot

American  

[lawng shot, long] / ˈlɔŋ ˌʃɒt, ˈlɒŋ /

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.

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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.

long shot British  

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 any means

   he still hasn't finished by a long shot

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Etymology

Origin of long shot

First recorded in 1785–95

Example Sentences

Passage has gone from a foregone conclusion early in the year to a long shot, even though lawmakers hope to hold a committee vote in the next month.

From Barron's • Apr. 17, 2026

At this point, that is a long shot.

From Salon • Apr. 10, 2026

But there are still big questions for Pakistan; and securing a peace deal is a long shot.

From BBC • Mar. 30, 2026

And smog isn’t gone, not by a long shot, but — with regulation and technology and psychology — we have beaten it to something of a standstill.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 26, 2026

“Maybe we’ll try Moreau again, see if we can’t get a sense of what Maria is planning to do next. It’s a long shot but he’ll probably be in the mood to gloat.”

From "Amari and the Night Brothers" by B.B. Alston

Related Words

• fluke