by mistake

Idioms and Phrases

Erroneously, as in He took my coat by mistake . [c. 1700]

Example Sentences

A woman from Newry said she felt "sickened" by communications from her local council after it demanded she return flood support money which it said was paid to her by mistake.

From BBC

The agriculture agency has long received those health certificates from other states by mistake — the records are supposed to go to county public health departments — and, in recent years, made it a practice to immediately scrap them.

From Los Angeles Times

The British wanted to seize the ship and its treasure, but fired a cannonball into the San José’s powder magazines by mistake.

From BBC

In February, Mr Kumar had told the BBC how he had shot his foot by mistake during training.

From BBC

A 79-year-old woman trying to surprise her granddaughter with tickets to see Oasis at Wembley said she was "devastated" to discover she had paid £2,700 by mistake.

From BBC