Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

long shot

Word Rarity Common

Frequency: Zipf frequency 5.12 in modern English

Syllables: long shot
IPA

12

Scrabble Score

8

Letters

1

Syllables

7

Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

A shot fired at a distant target.

noun

Something unlikely; something that has little chance of happening or working; long odds.

noun

A master shot, the primary wide shot of a scene into which the closeups will be edited later.

noun

Synonym of long take; a single, continuous shot that lasts for an unusually long duration without any cuts.

Example Sentences

""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.""
"We can try your plan, but it's a long shot and it probably won't work."
"A long shot, it may be, at immortality, but longer ones have hit; or Guido Fawkes, William Tell, and Samuel Pepys were forgotten now."
"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."

Etymology

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.

Inflected Forms

long shots (plural) longshot (alternative)

Phrases

by a long shot

Frequently Paired Words

by a long shot

Synonyms

continuous take continuous shot single shot oner long take establishing shot wide shot

Questions

What does long shot mean?: A shot fired at a distant target.
Where does long shot come from?: 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.

How to pronounce long shot

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