phrase🎓 English idiom

a long shot

something unlikely to succeed

What it means

Something that has only a small chance of success but might still be worth trying. It often describes a risky bet, guess, or attempt where the odds are clearly against you.

Examples

  • Applying for that scholarship is a long shot, but I'll try anyway.
  • It's a long shot, but he might still answer his phone this late.
  • Winning the contract was a long shot against such big competitors.
  • Asking for a refund after a year is a long shot, honestly.

Where it comes from

From early firearms and gambling: a 'long shot' was a shot fired from a great distance, far less likely to hit its target than a close one.

Related idioms

#when pigs fly#once in a blue moon#a blessing in disguise#miss the boat

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