not exactly right, but close; not far off the mark
A set phrase meaning a guess or statement is not perfectly accurate but is roughly correct. Often used when acknowledging an approximation or near miss.
His guess wasn't exactly right, but it was pretty close.
I think this translation is not far off the mark.
Standard kanji-kana mixed spelling; the most recognizable form.
Variant using 中 for あたる; less common but still encountered.
Literary variant using the classical 雖も for いえども; mainly in older or formal texts.
A classical Japanese set phrase combining 当たらず (negative of 当たる, 'to hit the mark') + といえども ('even though one says') + 遠からず (negative of 遠し, 'far'). Literally 'even if one says it hasn't hit, it is not far,' i.e., a near miss.