why if something isn't finished we say " not over by a long chalk " ?

Answer 1

a long chalk is an extended deposit of calcinareous material. But this was a bit of a tongue-twister, so people opted for a long chalk

Answer 2

I beat him by a long chalk signifies a good win over an opponent and comes from the days before lead pencils were common. In schools, merit marks were made with chalk; the longer the mark, the more merit was given to the receiver.

Answer 3

We here in the West Midlands have had this saying ever since i can remember, and i'm getting a bit long in the tooth, i thought it meant, when you were at work , whatever you had made, or weighed in, when you had finished, you would tally, you would put a long chalk mark to say it was your last tally, hence it wasn't over by a long chalk. Hope it helps.

Answer 4

It's a 'long shot' , and I think the expression has something to do with betting on horses. Betting on a long shot means putting your money on the horse nobody thinks is going to win the race. So the slowest horse.
I guess maybe 'not over by a long shot' means 'perhaps everybody else thinks it's finished - but I'M not finished yet" (still waiting for the horse to finish..haha)

My best guess. I don't know that much about gambling.

Answer 5

It is because a long piece of chalk will last a long time, it is an analogy.

Answer 6

Amrhappy1 explains it perfectly. As for all those saying it is "shot" not "chalk" are either very young or failed their English GCSE's.

Answer 7

chalk one up to the questioner!!

Answer 8

i thought it was long shot not chalk

Answer 9

shot, not chalk

Answer 10

...long SHOT! Not CHALK.