misses the mark
Fails to connect
Misses the mark means to fall short of a target or standard, to fail to achieve what was intended.
The phrase comes from archery and shooting—an arrow or bullet that misses the mark fails to hit its target.
Extended to any kind of failure or inadequacy: The movie had potential but ultimately misses the mark.
A criticism can miss the mark by misunderstanding what it criticizes.
- attemptEffort to accomplish
- miscalculationError in estimation
- misjudgmentFaulty evaluation of something
- bad callErroneous judgment or decision
- slip-upSmall unintended error
disappointment · close but no cigar · blunder · oversight · inaccuracy · effort · off-target · wide shot · falls short · misinterpretation · failure · overshoot · misunderstanding · lost the plot · frustration · aim · shot in the dark · setback
misses the marksucceeds
Accomplishes a goal
delivers · hits the nail on the head · makes the grade · meets expectations · accomplishes
miss, misses, missed, missing, mark, marks, marked, marking, marker