long shot

🌎Region: International 📊Difficulty Level:intermediate

💡Meaning

A bet, plan, or attempt that is unlikely to succeed but still possible.

🕰️Origin

From sports/gambling, especially horse racing: a "long shot" was a horse expected to lose (often at long odds). It broadened to any unlikely attempt.

📝Notes

Implies low probability but not impossible; often used to justify trying anyway. Common in speech: “It’s a long shot, but…”.

💬Examples

It’s a long shot, but I’m going to apply for the job anyway.
Winning the tournament as a rookie was a long shot, yet she made it to the finals.
We took a long shot and emailed the CEO directly, and he actually replied.
It’s a long shot that the flight will leave on time in this weather.
Asking for a refund after six months is a long shot, but it can’t hurt to try.

📘Grammar & Usage Notes

Usually a countable noun: “a long shot,” “the longest of long shots.” Common pattern: “It’s a long shot, but …” or “X is a long shot.”

🔗Synonyms

↔️Antonyms