zig

(one) zigged when (one) should have zagged

1. One moved in a particular direction but should have moved in a different direction in order to avoid some obstacle or impediment. A reference to moving from side to side in a zigzag pattern. A: "The running back had the chance to break away for a touchdown, but he was brought down by the other team's linebacker in a bone-crunching tackle." B: "Yep, looks like he zigged when he should have zagged." I nearly beat the final boss of the game, but I zigged when I should have zagged at the very last moment and he ended up killing me.
2. By extension, one acted in a way that resulted in a worse outcome than if they had done something different. Everyone assumed that it was an open-and-shut case, but the prosecution's controversial decision not to question the company's CEO is leaving many wondering if they zigged when they should have zagged. He really should have won the election, but he zigged when he should have zagged by focusing so much of his campaign on taxes instead of attacking his opponent's political policies.
See also: have, should, zag, zig
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

zigged when one should've zagged

perfomed one deed when another deed would have been better; to do something inconsequentially different from another thing. I don't know why she complained. I guess I zigged when I should have zagged.
See also: one, zag, zig
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
See also:
  • (one) zigged when (one) should have zagged
  • zag
  • zagged
  • zigged when one should've zagged
  • go in the right direction
  • sway (from) side to side
  • sway from side to side
  • sway to and fro
  • sway back and forth
  • backward and forward
References in periodicals archive
The actors are free to tell Zig at any point if they can do a stunt or not.
Ringmaster
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The Zig Zag Man
Keys Court in the old Woolworths building; The Bling Building on Hanover Street; Zig Zag above Paradise Street
Zig-Zag links new and old
The station commissioned Zig Zag Productions to make a documentary-style programme about their 'hoaxes'.
Hoaxer denies death threats
Zig Zag Ballet, resident dance company of the Stamford Center for the Arts, has an incredible venue to call home and a group of ten gifted, individualistic dancers to enliven its stage.
Zig Zag Takes A Few Baffling Turns. (Reviews: National)
The zig always informed the zag, which made for a keener sense of the dilemmas and values of the wider world than we've seen in any generation since.
Dong Battle: The Making of a Skeptic
Zig Dulay, an award-winning filmmaker, takes us to his home province of Isabela and the Bambanti Festival, with parades, costume pageants, dance and cook-off competitions that celebrate its fertile farmlands.
My Story, My SM: The back story
Frankfurt: Building a more resilient and sustainable food system was the theme of a roundtable discussion hosted at the Zig Zag building in London on Tuesday by Nicolas Moreau, Head of Deutsche Asset Management and Member of the Management Board.
Building a more resilient food system discussed
A 90s fan has launched a desperate appeal to find one of her most treasured items - alien puppet Zig.
Libby in a tizz after puppet Zig is missing
There is no way Willie Mullins would be bringing him over if he wasn't pretty fit and the conditions of the Stella Artois 1965 Chase (2.05) mean he gets weight from his two biggest challengers, Ptit Zig and Third Intention.
14-1 Turn Over Sivola can prove he's another Saturday star for King
CARDIFF council could buy a second speciallyadapted car to catch out drivers who park on zig zag lines outside schools.
Council considers second car to catch zig zag offenders
Tom is also a best selling author and the proud son of legendary Zig Ziglar.
Ziglar, Inc. Announces 2015 Top Performance U.S. Tour
Ptit Zig can take within his stride the step up in class when sent into battle on a strong card at Ascot.
Bank on Badr Al Badoor win at Wolverhampton