PhrasesHub

Not by a long shot

    Definitions

      • to emphasize that something is far from being true or accurate
        to express that something is not even close to being correct or accurate

      • to express a large difference
        to indicate that something is far from reaching a certain goal or target

    Examples of Not by a long shot

    • Her cooking skills are not by a long shot as good as her mother's.

      This idiom is used to emphasize that the person's cooking skills are significantly inferior to their mother's cooking skills. It suggests that there is a huge gap or difference between the two.

    • He won't be winning the Nobel Prize anytime soon, not by a long shot.

      This idiom is used to express that the person is not likely to receive a prestigious award like the Nobel Prize in the near future. It suggests that the chances of the person winning the award are very low.

    • I'm not by a long shot a morning person.

      This idiom is used to express that the person is not very good at waking up early in the morning. It suggests that the person finds it extremely difficult to wake up early and is not a natural early riser.

    • The movie was not by a long shot as entertaining as the director's previous works.

      This idiom is used to express that the movie was not as entertaining or interesting as the director's previous works. It suggests that the director's previous works were much better and more entertaining than the current movie.

    • Mark's cooking skills are not by a long shot as impressive as his sister's.

      This idiom is used to express that Mark's cooking skills are significantly inferior to his sister's. The phrase "not by a long shot" suggests that the difference between the two is substantial, and it's not even close.

    • I regretfully admit that my basketball skills are not by a long shot as good as Kobe Bryant's.

      This idiom is used to express that the person's basketball skills are nowhere near Kobe Bryant's level of proficiency. The phrase "not by a long shot" indicates that the difference between the two is enormous, and the person's skills are far from being on par with Kobe Bryant's.

    • After seeing the sales figures, it's clear that our marketing campaign was not by a long shot as effective as we had hoped.

      This idiom is used to express that the marketing campaign's performance fell far short of the desired results. The phrase "not by a long shot" implies that the difference between the actual results and the expected results is significant, and it's not even close.

    • Despite his best efforts, Mike's fitness level is not by a long shot as impressive as his colleague's.

      This idiom is used to express that Mike's fitness level is significantly inferior to his colleague's. The phrase "not by a long shot" indicates that the difference between the two is substantial, and it's not even close. It could also be interpreted to mean that Mike's fitness level is not impressive compared to his colleague's, who has a more outstanding level of fitness.


    Conclusion

    "Not by a long shot" is used to convey that something is far from being true or accurate, or that there is a large difference between two things. It is often used to emphasize the extent of the difference or inaccuracy.

    Origin of "Not by a long shot"

    The origin of the idiom "not by a long shot" is believed to come from the world of shooting or marksmanship. In this context, a "shot" refers to the act of firing a gun or other projectile weapon. The phrase "not by a long shot" is thought to have originated in the 19th century, when marksmen would use the term to indicate that they had missed their target by a significant distance. Over time, the expression became more widely used and took on the figurative meaning that we know today. Examples of the idiom can be found in literature and other written works throughout the 19th and 20th centuries.