Missing the point
Meaning
To fail to understand the main idea, argument, or purpose of something being discussed or presented.
Origin
The phrase "missing the point" is quite transparent, directly reflecting the act of failing to grasp the central idea or core argument. It lacks a dramatic, singular origin story, unlike many ancient idioms. Instead, it likely evolved naturally from the literal concept of "missing" a target or a mark—a universal idea found in activities from archery to aiming. Just as an arrow might "miss its mark," so too can a mind "miss the point," failing to hit the intellectual bullseye of a conversation or argument. Its clarity and straightforwardness contributed to its widespread adoption, especially becoming a common and concise way to describe a fundamental failure of comprehension in everyday discourse from the 20th century onwards.
Examples
- He spent the entire meeting discussing minor details, completely missing the point of the project's larger strategic goals.
- Her essay was well-written, but it kept missing the point of the prompt, focusing on irrelevant tangents.