by a long chalk

English

WOTD – 12 January 2023

Etymology

A reference to the practice of writing the scores of games on boards using chalk.^[1]

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˌbaɪ‿ə ˌlɒŋ ˈt͡ʃɔːk/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /ˌbaɪ‿ə ˌlɔŋ ˈt͡ʃɔk/

  • Audio (General American):

    (file)

• Rhymes: -ɔːk

Prepositional phrase

by a long chalk

1. (British, Australia, informal) To a great extent; by far.

   Synonym: by chalks

   • 1854, Thomas De Quincey, “System of the Heavens as Revealed by Lord Rosse’s Telescopes”, in Miscellanies: Chiefly Narrative (De Quincey’s Works; III), London: James Hogg & Sons, →OCLC, footnote *, page 171:

     [A]s regards the body of water discharged, the absolute payments made into the sea's exchequer, and the majesty of column riding downwards from the Himalaya, I believe that, since Sir Alexander Burnes's measurements, the Indus ranks foremost by a long chalk.

   • 1891, George Gissing, “The Lonely Man”, in New Grub Street […], volume III, London: Smith, Elder, & Co., […], →OCLC, pages 82–83:

     Bowring was a man of few words; he said, "Blaze away, my boy." And I tried to. But it was no use; I had got out of the style; my writing was too literary by a long chalk.

   • 1906, Edith Van Dyne [pseudonym: Lyman Frank Baum], “The Other Niece”, in Aunt Jane’s Nieces, Chicago, Ill.: The Reilly & Britton Co., →OCLC, page 153:

     The world's a stage, they say; but the show ain't always amusing, by a long chalk, and sometimes I wish I didn't have a reserved seat.

   • 1913, D[avid] H[erbert] Lawrence, “Death in the Family”, in Sons and Lovers, London: Duckworth & Co. […], →OCLC, part I, page 132:

     "My boy, remember you're taking your life in your hands," said Mrs. Morel. "Nothing is as bad as a marriage that's a hopeless failure. Mine was bad enough, God knows, and ought to teach you something; but it might have been worse by a long chalk."

   • 2021 October 25, Magdy Samaan, “Mohamed Salah added to school curriculum in Egypt”, in The Times‎, London: News UK, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 2021-11-30:

     He [Mohamed Salah] is, by a long chalk, the world's favourite living Egyptian, and [has] been heralded as a role model in his adopted city of Liverpool.

Alternative forms

• by long chalks (obsolete)

Synonyms

• See by far § Synonyms

Translations

to a great extent — see by far

References

1. “(by) a long chalk, also by long chalks, by chalks” under “chalk, n.”, in OED Online ⁠, Oxford, Oxfordshire: Oxford University Press, December 2022.