off the mark
idiom
: not accurate or correct : not achieving the desired result
Their estimates were completely off the mark.
His efforts to console her were off the mark.
Examples of off the mark in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
In the second half, Boston International survived an onslaught of chances for East Boston (11-3-3), including a couple of shots off the mark in the first few minutes of the second half.
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Brian Roach, Boston Herald, 26 Oct. 2025
Even though Google has been AI-first for nearly a decade, there is still time for businesses less quick off the mark to catch up.
—Noam Toister, Forbes.com, 12 Sep. 2025
Shi talked up Wolves’ transfer business and, in terms of raw numbers, his 90 per cent claim might not be too far off the mark.
—Steve Madeley, New York Times, 5 Sep. 2025
Not that Wolfe’s dictum was totally off the mark.
—David McGrath, Chicago Tribune, 22 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for off the mark
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Brian Roach, Boston Herald, 26 Oct. 2025
Even though Google has been AI-first for nearly a decade, there is still time for businesses less quick off the mark to catch up.
—Noam Toister, Forbes.com, 12 Sep. 2025
Shi talked up Wolves’ transfer business and, in terms of raw numbers, his 90 per cent claim might not be too far off the mark.
—Steve Madeley, New York Times, 5 Sep. 2025
Not that Wolfe’s dictum was totally off the mark.
—David McGrath, Chicago Tribune, 22 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for off the mark
Cite this Entry
“Off the mark.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/off%20the%20mark. Accessed 1 Nov. 2025.
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