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accidentally on purpose
01
used to refer to when someone does something intentionally, but pretends as if it was an accident
Idiom
InformalWhat is the origin of the idiom "accidentally on purpose" and when to use it?
The idiom "accidentally on purpose" originated from the English language and is used to describe a situation where someone intentionally performs an action but pretends that it was unintentional or accidental. The phrase combines the contradictory notions of intention and accident to convey a subtle form of deception or manipulation. It implies that the person has a hidden motive or agenda behind their seemingly accidental behavior, often aiming to achieve a specific outcome while maintaining plausible deniability.
Example
The employee accidentally on purpose left confidential documents on the boss's desk to draw attention to a certain
Sarah dropped her phone accidentally on purpose to get her crush's attention.
Mary strategically left her notebook behind accidentally on purpose to make her coworker finds it and sees her contact information.
John bumped into his ex-girlfriend at the party accidentally on purpose to gauge her reaction.
The politician spilled coffee on his opponent during the debate accidentally on purpose to discredit them.
