be quick/slow off the mark

be quick off the mark

To be quick to react or take action. You have to be quick off the mark if you're going to be an emergency responder.See also: mark, off, quick

be slow off the mark

To be slow to react or take action. He's too slow off the mark to be an effective emergency responder. You were a little slow off the mark on your last line. Come in a little bit sooner next time.See also: mark, off, slow

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.See also: mark, off, quick

be ˌquick/ˌslow off the ˈmark

be quick/slow to do something or understand something: You have to be quick off the mark when you answer a newspaper advertisement for an apartment. ♢ Jenny was rather slow off the mark, and they had to explain the joke to her.In athletics, your mark is your starting point in a race.See also: mark, off, quick, slow