# wide of the mark

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/wide-of-the-mark
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

(Very) inaccurate.

## Examples

- Your guess about the price is wide of the mark.
- The reporter's initial theory about the accident was wide of the mark, as new evidence soon proved.
- Although the analyst claimed his forecasts were precise, his projections for the quarterly earnings remained significantly wide of the mark.

## Origin

From archery and sports jargon, the expression refers to an arrow or projectile failing to strike its intended target. The phrase is occasionally corrupted to wide off the mark or widely off the mark, though the original construction remains the standard form.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.