off the mark

off the mark

Inaccurate or wrong. I never once said that! Your reporter's account is completely off the mark. I thought I knew what the real estate costs were around here, but wow, I was totally off the mark.

See also: mark, off

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2022 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

off the mark

Fig. not quite exactly right. Her answer was a little off the mark. You were off the mark when you said we would be a little late to the party. It was yesterday, in fact!

See also: mark, off

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

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]

See also: mark, off

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 2003, 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

off (or wide of) the mark

1 a long way away from an intended target. 2 incorrect or inaccurate.

See also: mark, off

Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017