long shot
Bet against odds
A long shot is an attempt unlikely to succeed but worth trying for the potential payoff: It's a long shot, but I applied anyway.
The phrase comes from gambling and marksmanship, where distance reduces odds.
In film and photography, a long shot frames subjects from far away, showing full figures or wide scenes.
Not by a long shot means not at all.
Likelihood expressed numerically
- improbableNot likely true
- far-fetchedUnconvincingly unlikely or strained
- remoteDistant or controller
- slimThin or meager
doubtful · underdog · dark horse · gamble · risk · chance · outside · iffy
Magnifying camera lens
- zoomRapid movement or magnification
- distanceSpace between two points
- framingStructural or contextual shaping
- compositionArranged elements forming whole
wide-angle · establishing · panorama · cinematography · aperture · focus · lens · camera
odds
Likelihood expressed numerically
- improbableNot likely true
- far-fetchedUnconvincingly unlikely or strained
- remoteDistant or controller
slim · doubtful · underdog · dark horse · gamble · risk · chance · outside · iffy · uncertain
telephoto
Magnifying camera lens
- zoomRapid movement or magnification
- distanceSpace between two points
- framingStructural or contextual shaping
composition · wide-angle · establishing · panorama · cinematography · aperture · focus · lens · camera · exposure
- gambling lingoall in, ante up, raise the stakes, go all in, high roller
- combat idiomsstab in the back, dodge a bullet, in the crosshairs, fire away, under the gun
- Competition idiomslevel playing field, down to the wire, neck and neck, win hands down, come from behind
- sports idiomsdrop the ball, throw in the towel, slam dunk, out of left field, level playing field
- "Long" wordslonghorn, longitude, longevity
- bettingbet, ante, wager, odds, stake