make a mistake

IPA/mˌeɪk ɐ mɪstˈeɪk/
IPA/mˌeɪk ɐ mɪstˈeɪk/

make a mistake — collocation

  • make a mistakebase form
  • made a mistakepast
  • makes a mistakethird-person singular
  • making a mistakepresent participle

1. to do something incorrectly and cause a result you did not want

1.collocationA2
Definition

to do something incorrectly and cause a result you did not want

Example

Rina made a mistake when she entered the delivery address.

made a mistake

The cashier noticed he had made a mistake with the bill.

made a mistake with

Common collocations
  • make a serious mistake
  • make a small mistake
  • make a mistake with a number
  • make a mistake on a form
  • admit you made a mistake
Synonyms
  • get something wrong

    plain and direct; often about an answer, detail, or calculation

  • slip up

    informal; suggests a small error or moment of carelessness

  • err

    formal; means to be wrong or act wrongly

Antonyms

Grammar Patterns

make a mistake

make a mistake with + noun

make a mistake when + clause

made a mistake in + activity

Usage Note

Use this phrase for an incorrect action, choice, or calculation. The usual object is the countable noun 'mistake', so the article 'a' is needed for one error.

Common Mistakes

Incorrect: 'I made mistake on the form.' Correct: 'I made a mistake on the form.' Use 'a' before the singular noun 'mistake'.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: collocation/1

'Make a mistake' is the ordinary phrase for doing something incorrectly or choosing the wrong action. 'Get something wrong' often refers to an answer, detail, or calculation. 'Slip up' is informal and usually suggests a small careless error. 'Err' is formal and appears more often in writing.

make a mistake ↗get something wrong ↗slip up ↗err ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Verbs

Phrases

  • make a mistake
  • make a serious mistake
  • make a small mistake
  • admit you made a mistake
  • avoid making a mistake

Adjectives

Prepositions