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off the mark
Also, wide of the mark. Inaccurate, wrong, as in The forecast was off the mark, since unemployment is down, or His answers on the test were just wide of the mark. It is also put as miss the mark, meaning “be mistaken,” as in The minister missed the mark when he assumed everyone would contribute to the supper. All these terms allude to mark in the sense of “a target,” as do the antonyms on the mark and hit the mark, meaning “exactly right,” as in He was right on the mark with that budget amendment, or Bill hit the mark when he accused Tom of lying. [Mid-1300s]
Example Sentences
If Patience is fast in making calculations and connections, the others can seem slow off the mark, and although everyone is on the case — in cop shows, teamwork typically makes the dream work — she makes the breakthroughs that lead to a solution.
The race was seen as an assault on the world record, and while the field were ultimately 10 seconds off the mark set by Joshua Cheptegei in 2020, Young's time was the second best this year, with even 10th-placed Dominic Lobalu setting a Swiss record.
For a while, it seemed like those predictions were off the mark.
That said, TSMC's boss was quick off the mark in confirming the expansion of the US site at an event with Trump at the White House.
It’s refreshing to see a sports columnist “man up” and admit when he’s off the mark.
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