by a long shot
Not even close
By a long shot means by a great margin or degree, emphasizing how far something exceeds or falls short of a standard.
The phrase works in both directions: She's the best candidate by a long shot or That estimate wasn't even close—not by a long shot.
The negative form not by a long shot is especially common, meaning not at all or not even remotely.
- far and awayBy a wide margin
- no contestUneven match or plea
- finishBring to completion
- leadDense metal, symbol Pb
- improbableNot likely true
by a mile · outside chance · out of the running · unlikely · gap · leaps and bounds · poles apart · against all odds · hands down · stretch · night and day · far-fetched · way off · worlds apart · margin · off the charts · distance · beyond measure
long, shot, longer, longest, length, lengthen, lengthy, lengthwise, elongate