on purpose

Idioms  

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.

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Example Sentences

Watchmaker Fossil Group is losing sales on purpose.

From The Wall Street Journal

“You aren’t doing this on purpose, right? It isn’t some viral online Picture Day Challenge or something?”

From Literature

The comedic overkill of the insult is on purpose.

From Los Angeles Times

Their insatiable demand is snarling up a supply chain kept tight on purpose by chipmakers who are keen to avoid price drops that dent profits, experts say.

From Barron's

But holding hands … on purpose … is another ball game entirely.

From Literature