|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
This week we take up idioms that are related to the word mark. Question mark over something: 1) not know what will happen to something in the future. With a change in the government in the Centre, a question mark hangs over the future of the schemes announced by the previous government. 2) a feeling of doubt over the ability or quality of something. The match-fixing scandal has left a question mark over the integrity of cricketers. An easy mark: something that is easy to beat, criticise or trick. Being the youngest in his class, he was always an easy mark for the school bullies. Close to the mark: something that is correct or nearly correct. Even though his latest theory has many loopholes, it is closer to the mark than his previous attempts. Off the mark: something that is not correct. His interpretation of the Ghalib’s verse is way off the mark. Up to the mark: be good enough. The performance of our sportspersons at the Athens Olympics has not been up to the mark. Leave your/its mark on someone/something: to have an effect that changes someone or something. The near-fatal accident he has left his mark on him for the rest of his life. Mark time: do something which is not very interesting while you are waiting to start doing something more important. He is marking his time doing small-time jobs until he gets a visa to go to the USA. Hit the something mark: reach a certain point or level. The company’s profits have hit the Rs 50-crore mark. (Reference: Cambridge International
Dictionary of Idioms) |
