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./