Miss by a mile is a phrase that refers to a drastic or significant failure in achieving an intended target or goal. The phrase is often used to emphasize the extent of the error or miscalculation.
When someone misses something by a mile, it implies that they were incredibly far from reaching their objective, indicating a substantial error in judgment, skill, or execution. This idiom metaphorically compares the distance of a mile to the magnitude of the mistake, emphasizing the vast gap between the actual outcome and the intended result.
Used in various contexts, miss by a mile is commonly employed in sports to describe a player who fails to accurately hit their target during a game. For example, if a basketball player attempts to shoot for the hoop but the ball ends up far off from its intended destination, it can be said that they missed by a mile.
Beyond sports, the phrase can be applied to any situation where a significant error or failure has occurred. Whether it is a student performing poorly on an exam or a company experiencing a massive loss in revenue, miss by a mile suggests noticeable and substantial incompetence, miscalculation, or underperformance.
Overall, miss by a mile is a figurative expression that conveys a significant deviation from a desired goal, emphasizing the extent of error, inaccuracy, or failing in accomplishing an intended objective.
