be a long shotPROBABLY a) used to say that a plan is worth trying, even though you think it is unlikely to succeed 成功希望虽然不大，尽管不大可能成功 It’s a long shot, but someone might recognise her from the photo and be able to tell us where she lives. 虽然希望不大，但也许有人会从照片上认出她，告诉我们她住在哪里。
b) American EnglishAmE if someone is a long shot, they are not likely to be chosen for a job or to win an election, competition etc 〔在工作招聘、选举或比赛等中〕不大可能获胜 Turner is a long shot to win next month’s mayoral election. 特纳在下个月的市长选举中获胜希望不大。
be a long shot• It was a long shot, but he might have been calling from his usual hotel in Lagos.• It was a long shot, of course, but if she looked carefully she might find something.• It was a long shot, very long.• Well, actually, he wanted two things, but he knew the second was a long shot.• It does no harm to write to the nearest local residents and businesses, but generally this is a long shot.• This is a long shot, but I still want to try it.• We are long shots and we are approaching it that way.
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