miss the point

Idioms  

1. Overlook or fail to understand the essential or important part of something, as in Chris missed the point of Gwen's complaint, thinking she was opposed to the date of the next meeting. This expression employs point in the sense of “the salient portion,” a usage dating from the late 1300s.

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Example Sentences

Both statements can be technically accurate and still miss the point.

From MarketWatch • May 27, 2026

But you miss the point if you fail to look at the bigger picture.

From Slate • Jan. 9, 2026

Amanda explains what their anger really reveals about their deep anxieties around masculinity and race — and how they completely miss the point of what Superman has stood for forever.

From Salon • Jun. 13, 2025

It feels like a slice of Americana in New South Wales perhaps - but that would miss the point that here, rodeo has become very much an outback Australian tradition in its own right.

From BBC • May 1, 2025

“Way to miss the point, Bry,” Lexie said, and fished her jeans up from the floor.

From "Little Fires Everywhere" by Celeste Ng

Related Words

• confuse
• miscalculate
• misconstrue
• misinterpret
• misjudge
• misread