Useful Idioms – part 38
Be wide of the mark = be wrong or miss what you were trying to hit; incorrect or not accurate.
- Yesterday’s weather forecast was a little wide of the mark
- Watch out, the arrow is going wide of the mark!
- I thought I knew what real estate costs around here, but I was wide of the mark.
Do something on the spur of the moment = do something suddenly without planning; on impulse. ( spur= metal on boot which makes horse go faster – related to horse-riding)
- I don’t generally do things on the spur of the moment.
- It wasn’t spur of the moment decision. We discussed it in detail beforehand.
- I decided on the spur of the moment to invite him.
Be on the cards = be likely to happen.
- An election is on the cards this year.
- It is still on the cards that I’ll get a contract for the job.
- A: So you think they will get married next year.
- B: I think it’s on the cards.