"Off the mark" is an idiomatic expression that refers to being inaccurate or incorrect in one's judgment, assessment, or estimation of something. It is often used when someone's prediction, belief, statement, or expectation about a particular situation or outcome proves to be untrue, misleading, or wide of the mark.
When someone says that they were "off the mark," they are admitting that their initial assumption, conclusion, or evaluation turned out to be incorrect or inaccurate. This phrase implies a deviation from what was anticipated or expected, indicating a misjudgment or fallacy of reasoning.
For instance, if a weather forecaster predicted that it would rain heavily the following day, but it turned out to be sunny instead, they could admit that their forecast was "off the mark." Similarly, if someone made a financial projection for a company's performance, but the actual results were far different, they would acknowledge that their estimations were "off the mark."
The phrase "off the mark" conveys the idea of missing the target or straying from the intended point. It emphasizes the discrepancy between what was believed to be true or likely and the actual reality or outcome. In essence, being "off the mark" implies a mistake, inaccuracy, or misjudgment in one's initial assessment or expectation.
