be beside the mark—be not relevant to the subject under discussion:
- We were discussing working conditions; his remarks about high rents were beside the mark.
be off the mark—
1. (also: be wide of the mark) be inaccurate or erroneous in one’s judgment:
- Sometimes he was off the mark. A lot of times he was just misunderstood.
2. starting smth. in response to a situation:
- The dog-breeder and poultry farmer were quick off the mark in using the new therapy.
Note: Neither expression correlates in meaning with the phrase fall short of the mark—(also: come short of the mark) fail to attain some desired object:
- Gilbert’s efforts to amuse her often fell short of the mark.