A long shot

How it is used

Informal, used to acknowledge uncertainty while considering an attempt. Low probability does not mean impossibility.

Example sentences

1. Getting the venue for next Friday is a long shot, but I will check for cancellations.

   A cancellation offers a possible route despite low availability.

2. The new supplier's bid looked like a long shot until the established contractor withdrew.

   A change in competitors improves what initially seemed unlikely.

Common collocations

• consider it a long shot
• remain a long shot

Related terms

• proposalA formal plan or offer, written or spoken, that is put forward for others such as a client or management to consider and accept.
• forecastA statement of what is expected to happen in the future, especially to sales, costs or demand, based on current data and trends.

More terms: Office Idioms and Phrases

• touch base
• heads-up
• on the same page
• keep me posted
• ballpark figure
• bandwidth
• circle back
• low-hanging fruit
• get the ball rolling
• back to the drawing board
• drop the ball
• on my radar