off the pace

idiom

US
: behind in a race, competition, etc.
The winner finished in 4 minutes, 30 seconds, and the next runner was three seconds off the pace.

Examples of off the pace in a Sentence

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The United States was fifth, 2 1/2 minutes off the pace. ABC News, 17 Feb. 2026 McDavid and Draisaitl together are shockingly off the pace, and that’s a new wrinkle offensively. Allan Mitchell, New York Times, 11 Feb. 2026 Senior forward Jacob Orin and senior guard Judah Miceli added eight points apiece for Hinckley-Big Rock (18-7), which isn’t far off the pace set by last season’s team that dropped a 57-54 decision to Aurora Christian in the sectional final and finished 26-9. Rick Armstrong, Chicago Tribune, 10 Feb. 2026 Seven players were tied for sixth, eight strokes off the pace. Kirk Kenney, San Diego Union-Tribune, 31 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for off the pace

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Cite this Entry

“Off the pace.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/off%20the%20pace. Accessed 27 Feb. 2026.

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