accidentally-on-purpose

accidentally on purpose

Seemingly unintentionally but actually deliberately. Sometimes hyphenated. Paula is pretty shy, so I think she forgot to attend the party accidentally on purpose. Ella also has a crush on Ben, so I bet she "forgot" to give you his message accidentally on purpose! I might have accidentally-on-purpose put your résumé on the top of the pile so my boss would see it first.
See also: accidentally, on, purpose
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

accidentally-on-purpose

Inf. deliberate, but meant to look like an accident. Then, I accidentally-on-purpose spilled water on him.
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

accidentally-on-purpose

mod. deliberate, but meant to look like an accident. Then I accidentally-on-purpose spilled water on him.
McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions Copyright © 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.
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References in periodicals archive ?
I don't think she is but the other day, when her sister was having a bath, she said if ever I accidentally-on-purpose came into her bedroom one night, she'd be happy to give me a good cuddle.
Although you can bet your life there'll have been many an old biddy leave the salon with third-degree scalp burns after he's accidentally-on-purpose shampooed them with the water set to "scalding".
Apparently most of America is up in arms about Justin Timberlake and Janet Jackson's routine at the half-time Superbowl show on Sunday night in which one of her breasts was accidentally-on-purpose exposed in a raunchy dance routine.