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- not by a long shot
not by a long shot
not by a long shot
Fig. not by a great amount; not at all. Did I win the race? Not by a long shot. Not by a long shot did she complete the assignment.
not by a long shot
not at all
“Do you think it's as good as her last movie?” “ No, not by a long shot.” Usage notes: sometimes used in the form not do something by a long shot: We haven't eliminated the disease by a long shot.
not by a long shot
(informal) also not by a long chalk (old-fashioned) something that you say when you think something is not at all true 'Do you think it's as good as her last movie?' 'No, not by a long shot.' It's not over yet, not by a long chalk, we still have a very good chance of winning.