quick off the mark

quick off the mark

Very quick to react or take action. You have to be quick off the mark if you're going to be an emergency responder. If you aren't as quick off the mark with sales as your competitors, you're business is going to suffer this holiday season.
See also: mark, off, quick
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

quick off the mark

quick starting or reacting. (Compare this with slow off the mark.) Boy, you were quick off the mark there! If you can be really quick off the mark, you can soon find the answer.
See also: mark, off, quick
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.

quick off the mark

Fast to start or try something, as in This physician is quick off the mark in trying the newest medications. This expression comes from various kinds of races, where mark indicates the starting point. It was being used figuratively from the mid-1900s on.
See also: mark, off, quick
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.

quick off the mark

mainly BRITISH
COMMON If someone is quick off the mark, they are quick to respond to something, or to take advantage of an opportunity. He knows what it is like to have his privacy invaded — and has been quick off the mark to do something about it. There are bargains to be had in the sales but you need to be quick off the mark. Note: You can also say that someone is first off the mark, meaning that they respond more quickly than anyone else. Thompson always seems to be the first off the mark with a new trend. Note: You can also say that someone is slow off the mark, meaning that they are slow to respond. There have been complaints that the international relief efforts on behalf of the refugees were slow off the mark. Note: The `mark' in this expression is the line which runners stand behind at the start of a race.
See also: mark, off, quick
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed.
See also:
  • be quick off the mark
  • be quick/slow off the mark
  • be slow off the mark
  • get off the mark
  • mark off
  • check off
  • mark my word
  • mark my word(s)
  • mark my words
  • beauty mark
References in periodicals archive
VINCENT Gilliver was very quick off the mark to identify this scene from the early 1930s, which was taken from the Loughborough Echo archives.
Workers taking up the Bull Ring in the 1930s
Those you care for may not be as quick off the mark as you are to see what changes you need.
YOUR STAR WITH
DINGBATS(r), 2009: Scan from DINGBATS(r) 1987 game board R=255 G=0 B=0 R=185 G=0 B=0 DINGBATS(r) Red DINGBATS(r), 2009: for DINGBATS(r), 2009: Only for use at very optionally without R=60 G=212 B=0 R=0 G=130 B=7 THINGBATS Green THINGBATS, R=148 R=94 Those you care for may not be as quick off the mark as you are to see what changes you need.
your stars
The last tour from the 32-year-old Essex boy was a sell-out in 2015, so make sure you're quick off the mark when the tickets go on sale at 9.30am tomorrow.
Murs the merrier!
You'd best be quick off the mark though; Specialbuys ranges get snapped up fast.
TRIED & TESTED
She said: "I tell him sweet FA." Turns out the reason for this was that he was always too quick off the mark to write a prescription and she was too ready to take it.
Saying nothing can be the best medicine
She has a lot of wit and charm and she is very quick off the mark. She doesn't take any flak.
X Factor too Hard a job for singer Sarah
FAIR play to the wits at Macclesfield Town FC who were particularly quick off the mark as another of FIFA's unsavoury characters began singing like a canary this week.
About time World Cup was held in East Cheshire
While some people are content to watch films and eat chocolates on Boxing Day others want to be quick off the mark to bag a bargain, meaning that the Metro Centre should be very busy on Friday.
Boxing Dale Sales: What time does the Metro Centre open? The Gateshead shopping centre is bracing itself for a busy time of things with some shops open for 12 hours!
And, even though it appears to still be Easter Sunday in Walford, the police aren't exactly quick off the mark as they finally turn up to question Lucy's family about her final movements.
EMMERDALE (7pm and 8pm ITV) [...]; WE LOVE SOAPS
I suppose it was just a matter of time before the new royal baby 'landed' in the school library and Franklin Watts has been quick off the mark.
Gogerly, Liz: A Royal Childhood: 200 Years of Royal Babies
Naturally, Labour were quick off the mark to get stuck in and eliver a kicking.
Hold your hands up, IDS; Views of the North
If you're ordering online, be aware delivery of furniture takes 7-10 days so you'll need to be quick off the mark if you want it in time for Christmas.
The coffee table trunk is a big drawer for me; Tricks trade of the
The second session was again almost one-way traffic as the Tomahawks were quick off the mark with six goals in the opening six minutes.
Tomahawks' season off to very n-ice start
Although, it may not be the singer's style, the 24-year-old star has been quick off the mark to state her intent.
RiRi chats up newly single R-Patz with 'sexy 'n' funny' texts