by a long chalk
By a wide margin, as of time, distance, ability, etc. Often used in the negative to indicate not at all or by no means.Primarily heard in UK. He won that match by a long chalk. I’m not done yet, not by a long chalk!
not by a long chalk
Not at all; not by great or any means. Primarily heard in UK. I’m not beaten yet, not by a long chalk!
chalk off
1. In sports, to disallow a goal due to a technical rule of the game. Primarily heard in UK. Their last-minute goal wouldhave won the match, but it was chalked off due to an offsides ruling by the referee.
2. To record, mark, or make note of something, especially as having been completed. I always find it bittersweet tochalk off another birthday each year.
3. To delineate the border of something with chalk. You always see the police chalk off bodies of murder victims inmovies. I wonder if they do that in real life.
chalk (something or someone) off
To presume, dismiss, or disregard someone or something as being a certain way. I really liked his earlier music, butI’ve chalked him off as a total sellout in recent years. Most people chalked the film off as yet another brainless horrormovie.
chalk (something) up to experience
To regard a bad situation, action, or outcome as a learning experience rather than dwelling on its negative impact. Iknow you’re upset about failing your exam, but just chalk it up to experience and try harder next time!
chalk it up
To link something that has happened to a particular reason or circumstance. Don’t get too down on yourselves afterthis loss, boys. Let’s just chalk it up to inexperience and move on. Sure, getting a B in Algebra is disappointing, butI’m just going to chalk it up to the fact that I’m usually terrible at math!
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2015 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
chalk something out
1. Lit. to draw a picture of something in chalk, especially to illustrate a plan of some type. The coach chalked the playout so the players could understand what they were to do. Our team captain chalked out the play.
2. Fig. to explain something carefully to someone, as if one were talking about a chalk drawing. She chalked out thedetails of the plan over the phone.
chalk something up
1. Lit. to write something on a chalkboard. Let me chalk this formula up so you all can see it. I’ll chalk up the formula.
2. Fig. to add a mark or point to one’s score. See also chalk something up (against someone).) Chalk another goal forSarah. Chalk up another basket for the other side.
chalk something up
(against someone) Fig. to blame someone for something; to register something against someone. I will have to chalkanother fault up against Fred. She chalked up a mark against Dave.
chalk something up (to something)
Fig. to recognize something as the cause of something else. We chalked her bad behavior up to her recent illness. Ihad to chalk up the loss to inexperience.
not by a long shot
Fig. not by a great amount; not at all. Did I win the race? Not by a long shot. Not by a long shot did she complete theassignment.
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
chalk up something
also chalk something up
to record something special Many banks chalked up large profits from their loans to internet companies.
Etymology: based on the idea of keeping a record on a chalk board
chalk something up to something else
also chalk something up to something else
to say that something is caused by something else She doesn’t even bother to say thank you, but I just chalk it up tobad manners and try not to let it bother me.
not by a long shot
not at all “Do you think it’s as good as her last movie?” “ No, not by a long shot.”
Usage notes: sometimes used in the form not do something by a long shot: We haven’t eliminated the diseaseby a long shot.
be (like) chalk and cheese
(British & Australian) also be as different as chalk and cheese (British &Australian)
if two people are like chalk and cheese, they are completely different from each other I don’t have anything in commonwith my brother. We’re like chalk and cheese.
See put down to experience
put something down to experience
(British, American & Australian) also chalk something up toexperience (American & Australian)
to decide that instead of being upset about something bad that you have done or that has happened, you will learnfrom it ‘I’m so ashamed. I let him take advantage of me.’ ‘Don’t be so hard on yourself. Just put it down to experience.’
not by a long shot
(informal) also not by a long chalk (old-fashioned)
something that you say when you think something is not at all true ‘Do you think it’s as good as her last movie?’ ‘No,not by a long shot.’ It’s not over yet, not by a long chalk, we still have a very good chance of winning.
chalk up
1. Score or earn, as in She chalked up enough points to be seeded first in the tournament. This term alludes torecording accounts (and later, scores) in chalk on a slate. [c. 1700]
2. Credit or ascribe, as They chalked their success up to experience. [First half of 1900s]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 2003, 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
chalk up
v.
1. To earn or score something: The baseball team chalked up four runs in the last inning.
2. To credit or ascribe something: Let’s just chalk the mistakes up to experience and try to do better on the nextproject.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Phrasal Verbs. Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
chalk and cheese
Two objects that although appearing to be similar are in fact different. Just as certain varieties of crumbly white cheesemight at first glance resemble chalk, so for example, siblings who resemble each other might have completely differentpersonalities. They would be said to be as different as chalk and cheese.
Endangered Phrases by Steven D. Price Copyright © 2011 by Steven D. Price
