long shot

See also: longshot

English

Alternative forms

• longshot

Etymology

The term arose from the accuracy of early naval guns, which were effective only at close range and unlikely to hit the mark at any great distance.

Pronunciation

• Audio (General Australian):

  (file)

Noun

long shot (plural long shots)

1. A shot fired at a distant target.
   • 1886, Peter Christen Asbjørnsen, translated by H.L. Brækstad, Folk and Fairy Tales, page 74:

     "It is of course a most foolish thing twice to take a long shot in a capercailzie wood, as you know," said the captain, appealing to me; "but the last time I had no choice, because I heard that villainous Andreas stalking the bird at the same time."

2. (idiomatic) Something unlikely; something that has little chance of happening or working.

   We can try your plan, but it's a long shot and it probably won't work.

   • 2023 May 18, Christopher Clarey, “Even as He’s Out, Rafael Nadal Will Always Be a Part of the French Open”, in The New York Times‎:

     His reign in Paris — full of flexed biceps, forehand winners and underrated court craft — is one of the great achievements in any sport, and though a 15th title is a long shot at this late stage, all we know for certain is that Nadal will not be winning it this year.

3. (film) A master shot, the primary wide shot of a scene into which the closeups will be edited later.

Synonyms

• (film): establishing shot, wide shot

Translations

Something unlikely

Arabic: قَلِيْلُ ٱلاِحْتِمالِ m (qaliylu l-iḥtimāli) German: ziemlich aussichtsloses Unterfangen n, ziemlich hoffnungsloser Fall m Spanish: posibilidad remota f, improbabilidad (es) f

See also

• by a long shot

Anagrams

• Gholston