Long shot definition of long shot by merriamwebster. Not by a long shot phrase meaning, pronunciation and more by macmillan dictionary. Whether it was suggested by a difficult long shot attempted in archery or shooting isnt known, but the expression a long shot first arose in british racing circles some 128 years ago as a bet laid at large odds, a bold wager. A long shot is an option with only a small chance of success. And, as with a lot of bible verses, they slip into everyday speech. A long shot is a shot fired from a long distance and so unlikely to hit its target. There are multiple origin stories for this phrase, which can appear by itself a long shot or in the negative form not by a long shot one origin story relates the expression to early firearms, which were not accurate at long distances.
Did the phrase a shot of whiskey originate in the old west. By the 1800s, the meaning of a long shot had expanded to mean anything that. Not by a long shot phrase american english definition. Origin is a 2017 mystery thriller novel by american author dan brown and the fifth installment in his robert langdon series, following inferno. When nick and kia arrive for tryouts for the basketball team they played on the. Simply choose a letter to start exploring, or choose one of the categories below.
Where does the expression not by a long chalk come from a this mainly british expression means not by any means, not at all and often turns up in conventional expressions such as they werent beaten yet, not by a long chalk it goes back to the days in which a count or score of almost any kind was marked up on a convenient surface using chalk. This is the british english definition of a long shot. In the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries a long shot meant just that, a shot fired from afar. This phrase comes from the fact that in the 18th and 19th centuries hat makers treated hats with mercury. Not by a long shot meaning in the cambridge english.
Huntsman is a long shot, and his daughters are steeled for whatever the outcome. Definition of its a long shot in the idioms dictionary. From encyclopedia of word and phrase origins by robert hendrickson facts on file, new york, 1997. A discussion on the mailing list of the american dialect society a few years ago suggested that not by a long shot in the us actually arose through a mishearing of not by a long chalk. The phrase is also used around the country as a synonym for youre welcome. A long shot phrase definition and synonyms macmillan. People sometimes use the expression by a long shot to emphasize the opinion they are. The catchphrase is a refrence to the ever popular 19 century detective she. Oct 14, 2017 the earliest known usage of shot in the sense of a measure of liquor appeared in the autobiography of the rev. The phrase computer bug has been around for a long time, but was it created due to an incident involving a real insect. Its a long shot, but maybe the firebrand is just getting old. This book mike lupicas comeback kids long shot is a book that is filled with man interesting things like persistence. We have a list full of hundreds of phrases and sayings. Definition and synonyms of a long shot from the online english dictionary from macmillan education.
Spanish conquistadors destroyed all but four of the books written by mayans. When a horse grows old its gums recede and if you examine its mouth it looks long in the tooth. Word historians say that it is not known whether it was first used in archery or gunshooting, although shoot and shot are firearmrelated terms, not archery terms, so id argue it was gunshooting. Not by a long shot is a deeply textured portrait of an industry where even the best in the business lose 75 percent of the time.
The term today means someone who is honest, forthright. We dont have our act together in washington by a long shot. There are multiple origin stories for this phrase, which can appear by itself a long shot or in the negative form not by a long shot. The term is first recorded in the 1860s, and very straightforwardly relates to the fact that the farther away a target is, the harder it is for a marksman to hit it.
Jun 09, 2015 the origin of the term shot glass is up for debate. First literary occurrence seems to be from the rehearsal 3rd edition 1675 the play was first staged 1671, however that does not necessarily mean that the phrase cannot be older. It is said to have originated from directors needing to take a second look at a recording because something seems wrong. The phrase social justice warrior seems to have come into use in and of itself over the last decade, albeit primarily within communities that are hostile to the idea of social justice, who, in applying the term warrior, seek to contrast the visceral nature of activist engagements with identity politics with a presumed presence of dispassionate logic on the part of those delivering the phrase. This use of who shot john eventually became popular in washington, dc where fingerpointing is the name of the game, and, according to the late william safire, president richard nixon was known to be fond of the phrase saying, in 1977, and so, thats the human side of story, which. Then you can start reading kindle books on your smartphone, tablet, or computer no kindle device required.
Top synonyms for long shot other words for long shot are little chance, slim chance and unlikely. Long shot dictionary definition long shot defined yourdictionary. New book reveals the odd origins of our most popular phrases. By a long shot definition and meaning collins english. The earliest record of the rhyme is in tommy thumbs pretty song book, published c. Its a long shot has since been generalised to mean any situation in which someone attempts to achieve a. Right or wrong, these 10 sayings have some of the strangest and most unsettling histories. Mar 04, 20 the phrase long shot, has been in use since the late eighteenth century and refers to the difficulty of hitting a target with a gun fired from a great distance. Who killed cock robin is an english nursery rhyme, which has been much used as a murder archetype in world culture.
Bill beck boise, idaho you bet is a phrase all us westerners grew up with. Jan 31, 2020 by a long shot idiomatic, usually with a negative by a wide margin. Jul 12, 2018 it is a very common phrase and an image macro when someone said or discovered something already obvious and well known. Observers say a deal between the white house and congress is a.
It is a very common phrase and an image macro when someone said or discovered something already obvious and well known. The oed notes that the earliest literary use of the term came from the new york times in the 1940s, but the term shot preceded that times article by many years. These pages include who meaning who bought it, where the location the shot was taken, when the time the shot was taken, what what kind of shot, and signature where the birthday girl signs, or trys to at least sign here name. Longest definition, having considerable linear extent in space. A long shot definition and meaning collins english dictionary. Its regarded as a standard affirmative in the west, derived from the popularity of gambling. What is the origin of the phrase dressed to the nines.
The origin of the term shot glass is up for debate. The word favour is from the th, or 14th century depending on which meaning applicable for the phrase you prefer. Tim marchman, the wall street journal beloved mets catcher mike piazza comes out swinging in a new memoirconfronting rumors about being gay and taking steroids, detailing his romantic home runs and finally setting the score with his hated rival, roger clemens. Long shot definition is a venture involving great risk but promising a great reward if successful. Today it means to generally stay out of trouble, but the original phrase is actually biblical in origin. The origin of the idiom go the extra mile is from the bible.
It wasnt as good as his first book not by a long shot. From shakespeares the merry wives of windsor, 1600. It was a long shot, but not outside the bounds of possibility. The book is predominantly set in spain and features minor sections in sharjah and budapest. Words, phrases or sayings origins, meanings by brownielocks. Jul 17, 2015 this use of who shot john eventually became popular in washington, dc where fingerpointing is the name of the game, and, according to the late william safire, president richard nixon was known to be fond of the phrase saying, in 1977, and so, thats the human side of story, which.
Its origin comes from the days when pirates would masquerade as honest merchantmen, hiding most of their crew behind the bulwark side of. Definition and synonyms of a long shot from the online english dictionary from macmillan education this is the british english definition of a long shot. Long shot explains how this nonprospect blossomed into a legendary hitter. So a long shot fired over a long distance only had a small chance of hitting its target. However, thethis was holding her son by his heel, meaning it was the only part of his body that was not touched by water, making his heel vulnerable.
The origin of on the wagon, meaning to abstain from alcoholic drink, is the most contentious etymology among the four phrases mentioned. One origin story relates the expression to early firearms, which were not accurate at long distances. You can use this list to learn about their meaning and origin. In the past guns were only accurate at short range. But not by a long chalk means not by much, so it seems that the phrase long shot derives from either archery or shooting. Oct 02, 2008 this book mike lupicas comeback kids long shot is a book that is filled with man interesting things like persistence. Change your default dictionary to american english. Synonyms for long shot include fat chance, fluke, poor prospect, remote possibility, uncertainty, chance hit, hundredtoone shot, little chance, long odds and lucky shot. By the 1880s the term was commonly applied to horses with little chance of winning a race. Its always been a long shot, and once its over, i dont regret it.
This phrase comes because guns used to have 3 parts, the lock the firing mechanism, the stock the wooden butt of the gun and the barrel. Dennis remark was recorded by a london literary scholar named joseph spence, but the phrase vanished until 1892, when it showed up in a book by w. The long shot is a what if alternative history of the american revolution predicated upon general george washington being critically wounded during the 1776 campaign in new york. Not by a long shot definition in the cambridge english. The book was released on october 3, 2017 by doubleday. The phrase long shot, has been in use since the late eighteenth century and refers to the difficulty of hitting a target with a gun fired from a great distance. The play was first staged 1671, however that does not necessarily mean that the phrase cannot be older. Long shot by eric walters meet your next favorite book. Its full of little sayings and idioms that on their face make no sense at all, and if traced back to their origins are downright horrifying. Its a long shot but you could start with the phone book. We tried digging up evidence that they were using actual severed thumbs for the task, but even that turned out to be too awesome to be true. But, we dont have skin on our teeth we have enamel. The american expression, meaning not likely or not even close, is fairly straightforward in its etymology.
Enter your mobile number or email address below and well send you a link to download the free kindle app. A lot of the english language seems to have been developed as some kind of elaborate practical joke. This can be seen in this part of the book were it says, as heavy as the paint clearly was, pedro could see his dad smiling, pg. The notion is of a shot at a target from a great distance, thus difficult to make. Define not by a long shot phrase in american english and get synonyms. This is a phrase that means to barely escape a disaster. The truth of the phrase is that it likely just refers to carpenters and tailors who, without a ruler handy, would just measure things in thumblengths. Oliver heywood 16301702, in which we find the phrase their vain way. This phrase comes from greek mythology, where thetis dipped her son achilles in the styx, a river that was believed to be a source of incredible power and invulnerability. The phrase social justice warrior seems to have come into use in and of itself over the last decade, albeit primarily within communities that are hostile to the idea of social justice, who, in applying the term warrior, seek to contrast the visceral nature of activist engagements with identity politics with a presumed presence of dispassionate logic on the part of those. Its a long shot but you could look in the phone book. It comes from a parable of jesus in the 5th chapter of the book of matthew. These pages are made by her girlfriendssorority sisters and consist of pictures, quotes, and.
The phrase long shot, has been in use since the late eighteenth. Oct, 2018 dennis remark was recorded by a london literary scholar named joseph spence, but the phrase vanished until 1892, when it showed up in a book by w. Where did the expression its a long shot come from. View american english definition of a long shot change your default dictionary to american english. Not by a long shot phrase american english definition and. Whats the origin of the phrase this is the short and the long of it.
The word favour is from the th, or 14th century depending on which meaning applicable for the phrase you prefer meaning good will, kind regard is from mid14c. They would then have to do another take meaning that another shot is needed. From about 1865, however, it also meant farfetched. Long shot idioms by the free dictionary idioms and phrases. This is the short and the long of it whats the meaning of the phrase this is the short and the long of it. What is the origin of the phrase rode hard and put away wet. The earliest known usage of shot in the sense of a measure of liquor appeared in the autobiography of the rev. Pundits say drobac is a long shot at best, but the cashstrapped challenger vows to defy the oddsmakers though not impossible, attempting to obtain permission for residential use would be a long shot its still a long shot but increased exposure is building up experience and the chances are shortening after a cut, the video camera pans right and a cameraman appears in. By the late nineteenth century the term had been transferred to other improbable circumstances, such as a wild guess or, specifically, a bet against considerable odds. Learn the history behind these 66 commonly used phrases. Jan 25, 2011 a discussion on the mailing list of the american dialect society a few years ago suggested that not by a long shot in the us actually arose through a mishearing of not by a long chalk.
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