mark

be quick (or slow) off the mark be fast (or slow) in responding to a situation or understanding something.

☞ The mark here is the line or marker from which a competitor starts a race, as is also the case in get off the mark and on your marks.

a black mark: seeblack.

full marks used to indicate that you think someone is worthy of much praise.

get off the mark get started.

hit the mark be successful in an attempt or accurate in a guess.

☞ The mark referred to here is a target in shooting.

leave (or make) its (or your or a) mark have a lasting or significant effect.

make your mark become famous and successful.

mark someone's card give someone information. informal

☞ This idiom, which dates from the mid 20th century, derives from the world of horse racing. The card is a race card, the list of runners at a race meeting, so to mark someone's card is to give them tips for possible winners.

the mark of Cain the stigma of a murderer; a sign of infamy.

☞ According to the book of Genesis, God placed a mark on Cain after the murder of his brother Abel, originally as a sign that he should not be killed or harmed; this was later taken to identify him as a murderer (Genesis 4:15).

mark time

1 (of troops) march on the spot without moving forward.

2 pass your time in routine activities until a more interesting opportunity presents itself.

near (or close to) the mark almost correct or accurate.

☞ The mark in this and the two following idioms is a target or goal.

off (or wide of) the mark

1 a long way away from an intended target.

2 incorrect or inaccurate.

on the mark correct or accurate.

on your marks used to instruct competitors in a race to prepare themselves in the correct starting position.

overshoot the mark: seeovershoot.

up to the mark

1 of the required standard.

2 (of a person) as healthy or cheerful as usual.