off the mark

Prepositional phrase

1. (figuratively) Inaccurate; not correct or appropriate.
   • His answers are consistently off the mark. None of them quite make sense.
   • Whatever the outcome, Fleet Street's introspective pundits will say: "I told you so", and make dire predictions for the future, which are likely to be off the mark.2014 September 8, Michael White, “Roll up, roll up! The Amazing Salmond will show a Scotland you won't believe”, in The Guardian

   Synonyms:

   wide of the mark, off base, off-track, off target

   Antonyms:

   on the mark, on the money, on the dot, bang on

2. Making a start (generally in comparison to others).
   • Sarafov was the first off the mark, but the other divisions did not jump off until an hour later and achieved nothing.2017, E. R. Hooton, Prelude to the First World War: The Balkan Wars 1912-1913, page iv