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Synonyms

off the mark

Idioms  

  1. 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]

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Consensus expectations in late 2007 of 16% were way off the mark.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 30, 2026

In some cases, the fish attempted to rub off the mark within the first hour of seeing a mirror.

From Science Daily • Feb. 23, 2026

The problem is that seasonal hiring patterns have been altered by the pandemic, and sometimes the adjustments are off the mark.

From MarketWatch • Feb. 8, 2026

Forward Mikel Merino is yet to get off the mark for the Gunners this season but scored in Spain's World Cup qualifier against Bulgaria before netting a hat-trick in a 6-0 win over Turkey.

From BBC • Sep. 10, 2025

When I told him he was not so far off the mark, he continued: 'Now I got it.

From "The Remains of the Day" by Kazuo Ishiguro

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.