Hyphenation: long-shot

English as a Second Language English Vocabulary, Grammar and Idioms
1

Hello Alan, Mister Micawber, Beeesneees, Mordant and other native English speakers,

oxfordadvancedlearnersdictio … hot#long_1
a [color=red]long shot
an attempt or a guess that is not likely to be successful but is worth trying
It’s a long shot, but it just might work.

A “[color=red]long shot” (two words) is correct, but a “[color=darkblue]long-shot” (one word) is wrong, is it?

2

I’ve never seen it hyphenated, Tofu. I think you are correct.

3

Hi Tofu,

If you are using it in the sense you have indicated, it clearly must be two separate words in the same way as you would say: short cut. The only possibility of it being hyphenated would be if you were using is as an adjective.

Alan

4

Thank you, B and Alan.

Alan:
Could you give me some examples in which the adjective “long-shot” is acceptable?