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

“All the conveyor belts are broken,” said Suzy Welch, a management professor at New York University’s Stern School of Business, at a recent symposium on purpose and flourishing.

From The Wall Street Journal

"One time I fell off stage in Norway and a load of women caught me in the front row – and, quite honestly, I'm not sure I'd ever have the bravery to do that on purpose."

From BBC

This quote helps explain why Chelsea may have run less on purpose, particularly in the first part of the season.

From BBC

"Socially I can be very awkward – not on purpose – but when it comes to football, I'm really open and happy," he says.

From BBC

“We agreed that it would be impossible for someone to reach you on purpose. Correct?”

From Literature