On Purpose

Meaning of Idiom ‘On Purpose’

On purpose means deliberately or intentionally; no an accident; intended. ¹,²

See accidentally on purpose.

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Examples Of Use

“He tripped me on purpose causing me to spill my food tray.”

“Martin knocked over my blocks, Mommy!” I’m sure it was an accident,” said Mom. “No, he did it on purpose!”

“They got the science wrong in that movie!” “Yeah, but they did most of it on purpose. Otherwise, it wouldn’t have been as exciting.”

Origin

Used since at least the latter half of the 1500s.

Shakespeare used this idiom in Comedy of Errors (4:3):

“On purpose shut the doors against his way.” ³

More Idioms Starting with O

• Out of Order
• Out of the Corner of One’s Eye
• Out the Wazoo
• Out of Whack
• Out of Breath

More On Idioms

• Trip On
• Lot Riding On Something, a
• Egg On
• Big On Something
• On a Roll

More Purpose Idioms

• Accidentally On Purpose

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References

1. Ammer, Christine.  American Heritage Dictionary of Idioms. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2013.
2. Spears, Richard A. McGraw-Hill’s American Idioms Dictionary. Boston: McGraw Hill, 2008.
3. Ammer, Christine.  American Heritage Dictionary of Idioms. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2013.