E. Cobham Brewer 1810–1897. Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 1898.
Mark.
God bless the mark! An ejaculation of contempt or scorn. (See SAVE THE MARK.)
1
“To be ruled by my conscience, I should stay with the Jew my master, who, God bless the mark! is a kind of devil.”—Shakespeare: Merchant of Venice, ii. 2.
To make one’s mark. To distinguish oneself. He has written his name (or made his mark) on the page of history.
2
Up to the mark. Generally used in the negative; as, “Not quite up to the mark,” not good enough, not up to the standard fixed by the Assay office for gold and silver articles; not quite well.
