21.   However, many ministers were slow off the blocks, failing to turn up at their offices as scheduled.

22.   But she denied Washington had been slow off the mark to deal with a problem which has long been a scourge in Asia, before enveloping Europe.

23.   The authorities have been slow off the mark in deciding to build a second desalination plant.

24.   The goalkeeper was too slow off the mark, however, allowing Ravanelli the split second he needed to nudge the ball round the keeper and screw it home.

25.   The goalkeeper was too slow off the mark, allowing Ravanelli the split second he needed to nudge the ball round the keeper and screw it into the net.