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.
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
apparently by accident but in fact intentionally. humorousFarlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017
acciˌdentally on ˈpurpose
(informal, ironic) intending to do something, but wanting to appear to have done it by accident: ‘We’d just finished our meal when John realized he’d accidentally left his chequebook at home.’ ‘Accidentally on purpose, you mean!’Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017
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.