long shot

• longshot

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.

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long shot (plural long shots)

1. A shot fired at a distant target.
   • 1886, Peter Christen Asbjørnsen, H.L. Brækstad, transl., Folk and Fairy Tales, page 74:

     "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."

2. (idiomatic) Something unlikely; something that has little chance of happening or working.

   We can try your plan, but it's a long shot and it probably won't work.

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

• (film): establishing shot, wide shot

• by a long shot

• Gholston