by a long shot

long shot

n.

1. An entry, as in a horserace, with only a slight chance of winning.

2.

a. A bet made at great odds.

b. A venture that offers a great reward if successful but has very little chance of success.

3. A photograph or a film or television shot in which the subject is shown at a relatively small scale.

Idiom:

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.

Thesaurus

Adv.

1.

by a long shot - by a great deal; "he is the best by a long shot"; "his labors haven't ended there--not by a long shot"