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.
