on purpose
on purpose
With deliberate intention; not accidentally. I bet you he left his report card here on purpose so we would compliment him on his grades. I don't understand—why would you run into the bumper of another car on purpose? Did you do it on purpose, or was it an accident?
See also: on, purpose
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
on purpose
intentionally; in a way that is meant or intended; not an accident. The bully stepped on my foot on purpose. Jealously, Jimmy destroyed Billy's sand castle on purpose.
See also: on, purpose
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
on purpose
1. Deliberately, intentionally, as in He left the photo out of the story on purpose. Shakespeare's use of this idiom was among the earliest; it appears in The Comedy of Errors (4:3): "On purpose shut the doors against his way."
2. accidentally on purpose. Seemingly accidentally but actually deliberately, as in She stepped on his foot accidentally on purpose. This generally jocular phrase was first recorded in 1862.
See also: on, purpose
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
on ˈpurpose
deliberately: He took the worst jobs he could find on purpose, and then wrote a book about his experiences. Don’t shout at me like that. I didn’t break it on purpose.See also: on, purpose
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
on purpose
Intentionally; deliberately.
See also: on, purpose
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition.
- return the compliment
- pay (one) a compliment
- pay a compliment
- pay compliment
- return (someone's) compliment
- casu consulto
- chance on
- chance on (someone or something)
- left-handed compliment
- left-handed compliment, a