hit the mark

1. Literally, to hit a target. The pitcher is having trouble hitting the mark tonight. I hit the mark last time and then totally fired over the target, sheesh. A: "Wow, how did all of those biathletes hit the mark? They make it look so easy." B: "Well, I imagine they practice shooting targets with a rifle far more than we do!"

2. To have the desired effect. Based on that rousing round of applause, your speech really hit the mark. If you don't hit the mark when you talk to the kids, they'll just tune you out. If you hit the mark, the board won't be able to turn down your proposal.

3. To be correct or accurate. You really hit the mark with that answer—good job. Elizabeth hit the mark when she suggested that we try expanding our core demographic. We've been way too narrow in our marketing recently. A: "Whoa, you hit the mark when you predicted that character wasn't really dead." B: "Eh, is anyone ever really dead on a soap opera?"

hit the mark

1. If something hits the mark, it is good and achieves what it was intended to achieve. It's the only track on the album which fails to hit the mark. Some of the jokes are gross and some aren't. Some hit the mark brilliantly and others miss by a mile.

2. If a word or description hits the mark, it is accurate. Is there a single word that captures the spirit of this town? `Hospitable' probably hits the mark. Note: The `mark' in this expression is the target used in shooting or archery (= a sport in which arrows are shot from a bow).

hit the mark

be successful in an attempt or accurate in a guess.

The mark referred to here is a target in shooting.

ˌhit/ˌmiss the ˈmark

succeed/fail in achieving or guessing something: He blushed furiously and Robyn knew she had hit the mark.