APAD: Accidentally on Purpose

Meaning:                                                                       

                                                                               

Deliberately, but feigning accident.                                           

                                                                               

Background:                                                                    

                                                                               

The first printed record of this phrase that I (Gary Martin) can find is from

The history of the famous preacher Friar Gerund de Campazas, by Jos Francisco de

Isla, 1772:                                                                    

                                                                               

    Tell us what is Modesty of Voice, for you happened accidentally on purpose

    to drop this word, and I don't rightly know what it signifies.             

                                                                               

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"Accidentally" itself, often suffices. In Foyle's War 9.2, Trespass,

 

    Foyle: "Well, the Woolf family were hurt rather badly."                    

    Jennings: "Sir David's death was an accident."

    Foyle: "So you threatened him accidentally? You beat up his son accidentally?"

    

I wonder if the script writer had our idom in mind when he wrote the above. "on

purpose" can add some humor, I think.