slow off the mark
Late to begin
Slow off the mark means delayed in reacting or getting started.
The mark is the starting line in a race—someone slow off it loses ground immediately.
The phrase applies to any situation where quick response matters: The company was slow off the mark in adopting new technology.
The opposite is quick off the mark.
- tardyArriving past due
- late to the partyComing after others did
- procrastinateDelay action unnecessarily
- dragging one's feetIntentionally slowing progress
- delayedMade to wait longer
behind the curve · untrained · dawdle · unpracticed · hesitant · unready · underprepared · off-guard · inexperienced · unresponsive · laggard · slowpoke · sluggish · flat-footed · loiter · poky · ill-equipped · disorganized
slow off the markquick off the mark
Prompt to act initially
prompt · fast-acting · on the ball · Johnny-on-the-spot · punctual
slow off the markquick on the uptake
Fast to understand
sharp · quick-witted · alert · on the ball · sharp as a tack
slow, slower, slowest, slowly, slowness, slowed, slowing, mark, marks