long shot

• longshot

long shot (plural long shots)

1. (idiomatic, nautical) Something unlikely; something that has little chance of happening or working. The term arose from the accuracy of early ship guns, which were effective only at close range and unlikely to hit the mark at any great distance.

   We can try your plan, but it's a long shot and it probably won't work.

2. (film) A master shot, the primary wide shot of a scene into which the closeups will be edited later.

• (film): establishing shot, wide shot

• by a long shot

• Gholston