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chalk
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 would have 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 to chalk 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 in movies. 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, but I've chalked him off as a total sellout in recent years. Most people chalked the film off as yet another brainless horror movie.
chalk (something) up to experience
To regard a bad situation, action, or outcome as a learning experience rather than dwelling on its negative impact. I know 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 after this loss, boys. Let's just chalk it up to inexperience and move on. Sure, getting a B in Algebra is disappointing, but I'm just going to chalk it up to the fact that I'm usually terrible at math!
know chalk from cheese
To be able to tell two things apart (especially by recognizing their differences). Of course I know which twin is which, I know chalk from cheese, after all! Leah has a beauty mark under her left eye, and Deena doesn't.
make chalk of one and cheese of the other
To favor one person or thing over another. In this phrase, "chalk" is something worthless, while "cheese" is something valuable. I can't stand how unfairly you treat your sons—stop making chalk of one and cheese of the other!
walk the chalk
To show one's competence in a particular area. This outdated phrase refers to a sobriety test in which one had to walk between chalk lines. I was so worried that I wouldn't be able to walk the chalk, but I got a perfect score on my exam!
at the chalkface
In the act of teaching. Because she's a new teacher, she still gets very nervous while at the chalkface. All of my students failed the test, despite the many hours I spent at the chalkface on that subject.
be chalk and cheese
To be very different from one another. Good luck getting those two to talk to each other—they're like chalk and cheese. My daughters are chalk and cheese these days—one loves baseball and the other loves ballet.
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 play out 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 the details 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 for Sarah. 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 chalk another 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. I had 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 the assignment.
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 to bad 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 disease by 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 common with my brother. We're like chalk and cheese.
See put down to experienceat the chalkface
a teacher who is at the chalkface is teaching students, and is not working in any other kind of job connected with education The media give a picture of falling standards in schools, but there is optimism at the chalkface.
put something down to experience
(British, American & Australian) also chalk something up to experience (American & Australian) to decide that instead of being upset about something bad that you have done or that has happened, you will learn from 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 to recording 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]
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 next project.
chalk and cheese
Two objects that although appearing to be similar are in fact different. Just as certain varieties of crumbly white cheese might at first glance resemble chalk, so for example, siblings who resemble each other might have completely different personalities. They would be said to be as different as chalk and cheese.