Not by a long chalk

Definitions

• not at all
  To indicate that something is not true or not the case at all

• not nearly
  To express that something falls short of a particular expectation or standard

Examples of Not by a long chalk

• His performance in the final exam was not by a long chalk what you would expect from a student of his caliber.

  This idiom is used to indicate that the person's performance in the exam substantially fell short of what was anticipated. The implication here is that the difference between the actual result and the expected one is quite significant, and the gap cannot be bridged easily. The expression "long chalk" is used metaphorically in this context to indicate a very long distance.

• Despite her hard work, her sales figures were not by a long chalk impressive enough to earn her a promotion.

  This example highlights that the sales figures did not meet the necessary threshold to earn her a promotion. The distance between the rating required for promotion and the achieved rating is very wide, and it appears unlikely that the gap can be closed without major improvements.

• I was expecting him to do a fantastic job, but unfortunately, his performance was not by a long chalk up to the mark.

  This final example shows the usage of the idiom "not by a long chalk" in a context where the speaker had high expectations from the person's performance, but unfortunately, those expectations were not met. The gap or distance between the anticipated outcome and the actual outcome is significant and goes beyond just a small difference or miss.

• Her grades in math this semester are not by a long chalk impressive.

  This means that her grades in math this semester are far from impressive. It suggests that they are not good enough to even come close to being considered impressive. This idiom is used to emphasize how poor her math grades are.

• Despite his best efforts, the cake he baked was not by a long chalk delicious.

  This means that the cake he baked was not pleasing to the taste buds. It suggests that it was not even close to being considered delicious. This idiom is used to highlight how unappetizing the cake was.

• The movie I watched last night was not by a long chalk entertaining.

  This means that the movie I watched last night was not enjoyable or exciting to watch. It suggests that it was not even close to being considered entertaining. This idiom is used to describe how dull and boring the movie was.

• His painting skills are not by a long chalk exceptional.

  This means that his painting skills are not outstanding or remarkable. It suggests that they are not even close to being considered exceptional. This idiom is used to criticize his painting skills as not being up to the mark.

Conclusion

The idiom "not by a long chalk" is used to convey the idea that something is not true or not nearly as much as expected. It can be used to dismiss a statement or to indicate that something is not even close to meeting a particular standard.

Origin of "Not by a long chalk"

The origin of the idiom "not by a long chalk" can be traced back to the game of billiards or pool. In this game, players use a piece of chalk to apply to the tip of the cue stick to increase its friction with the ball. The phrase "not by a long chalk" is believed to have originated from the idea that if a player misses a shot by a long chalk mark, it means that they missed it by a considerable distance. Over time, the phrase evolved to be used in a figurative sense to indicate that something falls short of expectations or is not true at all.

An example of the idiom's usage can be seen in a sentence like: "I don't believe that story, not by a long chalk." This sentence indicates that the speaker does not believe the story at all.