long shot
See also: longshot
English
[edit]Alternative forms
[edit]Etymology
[edit]From long + shot. 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
[edit]Noun
[edit]long shot (plural long shots)
- 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."
- (idiomatic) Something unlikely; something that has little chance of happening or working; long odds.
- We can try your plan, but it's a long shot and it probably won't work.
- 1927, Ernest Bramah [pseudonym; Ernest Brammah Smith], Max Carrados Mysteries:
- A long shot, it may be, at immortality, but longer ones have hit; or Guido Fawkes, William Tell, and Samuel Pepys were forgotten now.
- 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[1]:
- 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.
- (film) A master shot, the primary wide shot of a scene into which the closeups will be edited later.
- (film) Synonym of long take; a single, continuous shot that lasts for an unusually long duration without any cuts.
- Synonyms: continuous take, continuous shot, single shot, oner
Synonyms
[edit]- (film): establishing shot, wide shot
Translations
[edit]Something unlikely — see also improbability
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