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Meaning & use

missed the mark

phrase, verb·Advancedfigurative

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UK/ˈmɪst ðə ˈmɑːk/
US/ˈmɪst ðə ˈmɑːrk/

“missed the mark” is a form of “miss the mark”. See that entry for the full set of meanings.

Meanings

  1. phraseidiomfigurative

    Failed to produce the effect that was wanted, or turned out to be inaccurate.

    Grammar: Past tense, with a subject that is a thing or a plan: the joke missed the mark.

    Patterns

    • something missed the mark
    • missed the mark with someone

    The new logo missed the mark with older customers.

    Her prediction missed the mark by a mile.

    The cafe's cheerful slogan missed the mark after the bad news.

  2. verbintransitive

    Did not hit the target in a literal sense.

    Grammar: No object: the dart missed the mark.

    Patterns

    • missed the mark

    Every throw missed the mark in the first round.

    The arrow missed the mark and landed in the grass.

    His shot missed the mark by an inch.

Word forms

base formmiss the mark

Common combinations

totally missed the mark
The marketing team totally missed the mark.
slightly missed the mark
The estimate slightly missed the mark.
the joke missed the mark
The joke missed the mark because nobody knew the story.
missed the mark with voters
The proposal missed the mark with voters.
missed the mark by a mile
The review missed the mark by a mile.

Synonyms and how they differ

fell short
Fell short means did not reach a required level, but it does not suggest being off target as missed the mark does.
failed
Failed is blunt and complete, while missed the mark is a softer comment.
fell flat
Fell flat means produced no reaction, usually of a joke or event.

Opposites

hit the mark

Word family

miss the mark phrase
the base form of the idiom
off the mark phrase
inaccurate
on the mark phrase
correct
hit the mark phrase
to succeed in the aim

Commonly confused: missed the mark or missed the boat?

missed the mark vs missed the boat

Missed the boat describes losing an opportunity, whereas missed the mark describes failing to meet an aim.

Practice

Customers did not respond to the ad, so the company admitted that it had ___.

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