long-off: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowSpecialized (Cricket), Informal
Quick answer
What does “long-off” mean?
The cricket fielding position placed far from the batsman on the off side.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The cricket fielding position placed far from the batsman on the off side.
Metaphorically, a remote or distant prospect; something not likely to happen in the immediate future.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
As a cricket term, it's primarily British/Commonwealth. The metaphorical use is also chiefly British. The term is largely unknown in general American English.
Connotations
British: Technical in sport, colloquial in metaphor. American: Unfamiliar; potential for confusion.
Frequency
Very frequent in UK/Commonwealth cricket contexts; low frequency in metaphorical use; near-zero in general US English.
Grammar
How to Use “long-off” in a Sentence
VERB + at + long-offPREPOSITION + long-off (e.g., from long-off)ADJECTIVE + long-off (e.g., deep long-off)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “long-off” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- It's a long-off chance, but we might get funding next year.
American English
- The concept is largely unknown in US adjective form.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare; 'The merger is a long-off possibility given current regulations.'
Academic
Very rare; not a standard academic term.
Everyday
Informal metaphorical use for distant future events; 'Retirement seems a long-off dream at the moment.'
Technical
Standard term in cricket commentary and coaching.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “long-off”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “long-off”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “long-off”
- Writing as 'long off' (open compound) when referring to the cricket position (usually hyphenated).
- Using in American contexts without explanation.
- Confusing with 'long on' (the position on the leg side).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
In cricket terminology, it is standardly written with a hyphen: 'long-off'. The metaphorical use often appears as an open compound ('long off') or hyphenated.
Americans would generally not use this term unless discussing cricket. For expressing a distant future event, terms like 'remote possibility' or 'distant prospect' are more common.
The direct opposite on the leg side is 'long-on'. Both are deep fielding positions.
It is informal, chiefly British/Commonwealth colloquial. In formal writing, alternatives like 'remote prospect' are preferred.
The cricket fielding position placed far from the batsman on the off side.
Long-off: in British English it is pronounced /ˌlɒŋ ˈɒf/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌlɔːŋ ˈɔːf/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “a long-off chance”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a fielder standing LONG way OFF the batsman. For the metaphor: if something is 'long off', it's a long way off in time.
Conceptual Metaphor
SPATIAL DISTANCE IS TEMPORAL DISTANCE (A distant fielding position represents a distant future event).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'long-off' primarily used?