MISS BY A MILE

v. phr. , informal 1. To shoot at something and be far from hitting it; not hit near. Jack's first shot missed the target by a mile. 2. To be very wrong; be far from right. Lee tried to guess on the examination, but his answers missed by a mile. 3. To fail badly; not succeed at all. John Brown wanted to be governor but in the election he missed by a mile.