by a long shot

At all; in any way. Often used in the negative. Oh, we aren't finished cleaning, not by a long shot—we still have the entire downstairs to tackle. I'm not beaten yet, not by a long shot! Oh, your short story was the best by a long shot. The competition wasn't particularly close.

See also: by, long, shot

by a long shot

see under long shot.

See also: by, long, shot

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 2003, 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

by a long shot

You can use by a long shot to make a statement stronger, especially a negative statement or one that contains a superlative. We have to know what is going on, and we don't, not yet, not by a long shot. The arms race isn't over by a long shot. No city has escaped the recession, but Seattle has fared best by a long shot. Compare with a long shot.

See also: by, long, shot

Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed. © HarperCollins Publishers 2012

by a long shot

by far; outstandingly. informal

See also: by, long, shot

by a long shot

Informal

To any extent; at all. Usually used in negative sentences: You haven't done your share of the work by a long shot.

See also: by, long, shot

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

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