long shot
Something unlikely; something that has little chance of happening or working; long odds
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
“Winning the lottery is a long shot.”
“Finding my lost keys in this dark park feels like a long shot.”
“Applying for that job is a long shot, but I decided to send my resume anyway.”
“I know it is a long shot, but maybe the hotel still has one room available if we call them right now.”
“Although the startup's success seemed like a long shot to most investors, the founder remained confident that the new technology would eventually transform the entire industry.”
The phrase comes from gunnery. A 'long shot' was literally a shot fired at a distant target — and with the muzzle-loading weapons of the late 18th and early 19th centuries, the farther the range, the less likely it was to hit. By the 1800s the term had moved into horse racing and betting, where bookmakers used it for a runner given long odds: a wager unlikely to pay off. That history sits behind the everyday sense today — any attempt, guess, or goal with only a small chance of success.
- 01
a little of something goes a long way
Only a small amount of something is usually required to produce a great effect.
- 02
a week is a long time in politics
In politics, much change can occur in a short space of time.
- 03
as the day is long
Unceasingly; very; thoroughly; to a very high degree.
- 04
big shot
A person with a reputation of importance or power.
- 05
chip shot
Something that is easy to do or to achieve.
- 06
come a long way
To make significant progress.
- 07
draw a long bow
To lie; to exaggerate.
- 08
draw the long bow
To exaggerate; to tell tall tales.
Last updated August 10, 2026