long shot, a

Idioms  

1. A remote possibility of success, as in It's a long shot that Joan will actually finish the marathon, or He may be a good programmer, but he's a long shot for that job. This expression alludes to the inaccuracy of early firearms, which when shot over a distance rarely hit the target. It is commonly used in horseracing for a bet made at great odds. A related phrase is not by a long shot, meaning “not even remotely,” as in I'll never make it to California in three days, not by a long shot. [Late 1800s]

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Example Sentences

If a candidate was a long shot, a well-delivered blow can hasten their downward spiral—though it probably won’t help the candidate who landed the rhetorical punch.

From Slate • Aug. 23, 2023

Butt was a long shot a month ago.

From Washington Times • Sep. 5, 2020

Theranos was a long shot, a very risky investment, made by sophisticated investors.

From New York Times • Mar. 14, 2018

Almost a year ago, when the presidency seemed a long shot, a reporter asked how Trump would take it if he lost.

From Washington Post • Nov. 3, 2016

It was a long shot, a dangerous shot, for unless one is accustomed to it, shooting from a considerable altitude is most deceptive work.

From The Land That Time Forgot by Burroughs, Edgar Rice