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mistake
an honest mistake
A mistake made unintentionally or unknowingly and without the intention of causing harm; a mistake that anyone might have made in similar circumstances. It was an honest mistake! How was I to know that you wouldn't want me to send that letter with the rest of the mail?
by mistake
in error; accidentally. I'm sorry. I came into the wrong room by mistake. I chose the wrong road by mistake. Now we are lost.
If you don't make mistakes, you don't make anything.
Prov. If you try to do something, you will likely make mistakes.; The only way to make no mistakes is to avoid trying to do anything. (Can be used to console someone who has made a mistake.) Alan: I'm sorry there's no dessert. I tried to make a cake, but I messed it up. Jane: That's OK, dear; if you don't make mistakes, you don't make anything. It's a shame that you ruined the sweater you were making, but if you don't make mistakes, you don't make anything.
make a mistake
to commit an error; to do something wrong accidentally. I made a mistake and I am really sorry about it.
Make no mistake (about it)!
Inf. Do not be mistaken! You can be certain. Sally: I'm very angry with you! Make no mistake about it! Fred: Whatever it's about, I'm sorry. Clerk: Make no mistake, this is the finest carpet available. Sally: I'd like something a little less fine, I think.
mistake (someone) for (someone else)
and mix (someone) up with (someone else)to confuse someone with someone else; to think that one person is another person. I'm sorry. I mistook you for John. Tom is always mistaking Bill for me. We don't look a thing alike, though. Try not to mix Bill up with Bob, his twin.
mistake (something) for (something else)
and mix (something) up with (something else)to confuse two things with each other. Please don't mix this idea up with that one. I mistook my book for yours.
mix someone up with someone else Go to mistake someone for someone
else.
mix something up with something else Go to mistake something for something
else.
by mistake
without intending to I'm sorry – I dialed your number by mistake.
make no mistake (about it)
do not imagine that I am wrong Make no mistake, any violence against an individual is an act of terror. They are in control of the business, make no mistake about it.
mistake somebody/something for somebody/something
to think that a person or thing is really someone or something else The prison buildings could almost be mistaken for a college campus.
by mistake
Erroneously, as in He took my coat by mistake. [c. 1700]
make no mistake
Have no doubt, certainly, as in
Make no mistake-I'll vote Republican no matter who runs. [Mid-1800s] Also see
get someone wrong.
mistake for
Take someone or something for someone or something else, as in I'm sorry, I mistook you for her sister, or Don't mistake that friendly smile for good intentions; he's a tough competitor. [c. 1600]
mistake for
v. To wrongly perceive that someone or something is someone or something else: I'm sorry to have bothered you—I mistook you for a friend of mine. Don't mistake the poison ivy for a box elder vine!
Make no mistake (about it)!
sent. an expression signifying the sincerity of the speaker’s previous statements. Make no mistake! This is the real thing.
Make no mistake !
verb
Common Names:
| Name | Gender | Pronounced | Usage |
|---|
| Adora | | ah-DHO-rah | Spanish |
| Baptist | | - | German |
| Trent | | [trent] | |
| Lyubov | | lyoo-BOF (Russian) | Russian, Bulgarian, Ukrainian |
| Amie | | AY-mee | English |
| Lilliana | | lil-ee-AN-ə | English (Modern) |