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to make an oopsy

to make an oopsy

8.2
To do something small and silly by accident
  • idiom
  • /meɪk æn ˈʊpsi/
  • Informal
translation icon : cometer un error
  • I made an oopsy and dropped my phone on the floor.

Examples

  • She quietly admitted she had made an oopsy when adding salt instead of sugar.

  • Don't worry, everyone makes an oopsy sometimes!

  • He made an oopsy during the presentation, but quickly recovered.

  • I made an oopsy when I spilled my drink.

  • He made an oopsy during the presentation, but quickly recovered.

  • I made an oopsy and dropped my phone on the floor.

  • Don't worry, everyone makes an oopsy sometimes!

Synonyms

to screw up
vsto make an oopsy
  • Informal
641 6.3

To make a mistake that ruins what you are doing

is milder and more playful than expressions for large failures
to slip up
vsto make an oopsy
  • Informal
27 4.1

To make a small careless mistake

is lighter and more playful than words that imply real damage
to goof
vsto make an oopsy
  • Informal
17 5.6

To make a silly or careless mistake

is more playful and lighthearted than words showing serious fault
to foul up
vsto make an oopsy
  • Informal
8 6.4

To make a mistake that ruins something because you are careless

is less severe and more playful than terms for serious ruin
to make a boo-boo
vsto make an oopsy
  • Baby Talk
1 8.4

To do something wrong by accident in a small, silly way

is lighter and more playful than terms that show serious failure
to make a boob
vsto make an oopsy
  • Archaic
1 8.2

To do something foolish or embarrassing by mistake

is used more playfully and softly than blunt or serious terms
to booboo
vsto make an oopsy
  • Informal
8.3

To make a small mistake in a playful or informal way

is equally light and playful rather than serious or harmful

How Serious

to mess up
  • Informal
597 2.8
to blunder
7 4.4
to mistake
37 1.0
to slip up
  • Informal
27 4.1
to make an oopsy
  • Informal
8.2

Surface Forms

make an oopsy infinitive
made an oopsy past participle
making an oopsy present participle
makes an oopsy third person singular

Morphology

make + an + oopsy

The noun 'oopsy' is a playful diminutive of the interjection 'oops' (a small mistake), and combining it with 'make' + article yields the straightforward composition 'cause a small mistake'. This follows the common pattern 'make a [mistake]' and is easily inferable by a B1 learner who knows the constituents.

Etymology

Make an oopsy comes from the short word oops people say after a small mistake. The childlike form oopsy turns that sound into a playful noun, so saying you make an oopsy means 'to make a small mistake' in a light, friendly way.