schoolboy error

schoolboy error

A very simple, basic, or fundamental mistake or error. Primarily heard in UK. Thanks to a schoolboy error by their opponents' keeper, the football club will advance to the next round of the tourney. The math textbook had to be reprinted after several schoolboy errors were discovered in some of the equations.
See also: error, schoolboy
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
See also:
  • schoolboy
  • in error
  • fall into error
  • make a mistake
  • scold
  • scold (one) about (something)
  • scold about
  • scolding
  • howler
References in periodicals archive
Third-placed Schoolboy Error made it three wins from his last four starts when producing a fine weight-carrying performance at Fairyhouse last week, while fifth-placed Happy Company won at Sligo on Tuesday.
While the singer had pants on, the former TOWIE star, 31, went in naked which he described as a "schoolboy error" because of the effect the cold had on his manhood.
Sir Bradley Wiggins says a "schoolboy error" ruined yesterday's return to the velodrome after swapping the bike for the boat.
Summary: US president's schoolboy error was met with shock and amusement
And the 26-year-old admits he has already made a schoolboy error after jetting back from the States.
Schoolboy Error can make a successful return back on the flat in the ApolloBet Bet Through Your Mobile Handicap at Kempton.
But Collison made a schoolboy error by posting the reg number as eager Tweeters quickly ran it through the Government's tax checker site to check he hadn't been driving it illegally.
But midfield legend Beckham is brought down from behind by a schoolboy error.
Take the Maesdu Road Bridge project, which went pounds 2 million over budget thanks to a schoolboy error. The staff were too inexperienced to deal with such a complex contract, says KPMG, but its fundamental flaw would have been spotted easily by anyone paying out of their own pocket.
Vaughan admitted he made a "schoolboy error" by not knowing the number of Green Jackets won by Tiger Woods.
Ratcliffe blamed a 'schoolboy error' for Saturday's 1-0 defeat at Exeter City and criticised his team for not pointing fingers when blame was due.
He even termed the run-outs as schoolboy errors. "To be very honest it is a huge problem, the manner in which they got run out is a schoolboy error.
Sky Sports pundit Alan McInally was the latest to find himself pulled up for the 'textbook' schoolboy error of describing Burnley's home victory over Southampton at the weekend as "a damp squid".
Then all of a sudden another schoolboy error at the back as Dawson got dispossessed by Simeon Jackson.