Describing mistakes

Josep B. (Spain)
Different ways of saying "MISTAKE" in English and related expressions.
16 words 5 learners

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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. error
    a wrong action attributable to bad judgment or ignorance
    That's a glaring error! -the teacher exclaimed-.
    ˈerə

    FORMAL
  2. slip
    move obliquely or sideways, usually in an uncontrolled manner
    He recited the whole poem without making a single slip.
    slɪp

    to slip -> patinar
    a slip -> una patinada

    ALSO: LAPSE
  3. lapse
    a mistake resulting from inattention
    Are lapses of memory common to elderly people?
    læps

    ALSO: SLIP
  4. howler
    a glaring blunder
    -In his thesis, Daniel wrote that count-duke of Olivares died in 1630... -What a howler! -And the last straw: he told his professor that it was just a slip/a lapse...!!
    ˈhaʊlə

    An embarrassing mistake which shows that the person who made it does not know something that they really should know.
  5. misconception
    an incorrect assumption
    There's a huge misconception that innovation is mostly about inventing or coming up with cool new things.
    ˌmɪskənˈsepʃn

    V: misconceive
  6. misunderstanding
    an interpretation of something that is not correct
    The problem arose from a misunderstanding on the part of the French.
    ˌmɪsʌndəˈstændɪŋ

    V: misunderstand
  7. misprint
    a mistake in printed matter resulting from mechanical failures of some kind
    It turned out that the book was misprinted and full of spelling mistakes.
    ˈmɪsprɪnt

    V: misprint
  8. mispronunciation
    incorrect pronunciation
    People are always mispronouncing my name.
    ˌmɪsprənʌnsiˈeɪʃn

    V: mispronounce
  9. erroneous
    containing or characterized by mistakes
    He seems to be under the erroneous impression that she is in love with him.
    ɪˈrəʊniəs
  10. faulty
    having a defect
    Ask for a refund if the goods are faulty.
    ˈfɔːlti

    + ARTICLE/GOOD/ITEM/PRODUCT...

    also: a machine/car/laptop/pc/device... breaks down
    a lift/machine/toilet/... is out of order
  11. rotten
    having decayed or disintegrated
    The fruit is starting to go rotten.
    ˈrɒtn

    + FOOD

    also: food/teeth... decay
  12. drivel
    a worthless message
    “Who is to keep quiet when he listens to such idiotic drivel?
    = tonteria
  13. solecism
    a socially awkward or tactless act
    We have reproduced the English version without correcting the solecisms of spelling and expression.
    ˈsɒlɪsɪzəm
  14. stumble
    miss a step and fall or nearly fall
    In her nervousness she stumbled over her words.
    ˈstʌmbl

    STUMBLE OVER = entrebancar-te quan llegeixes
  15. slipshod
    marked by great carelessness
    The work was done in a slipshod manner.
    ˈslɪpʃɒd

    ADJ.

    IN A SLIPSHOD MANNER
    IN A CARELESS MANNER
  16. careless
    marked by lack of attention or consideration or forethought
    The work was done in a careless manner.
    ˈkeələs

    ADJ. = without care

    IN A CARELESS MANNER
    IN A SLIPSHOD MANNER
Created on Sat Jun 15 12:30:48 EDT 2013 (updated Sun Jun 16 09:53:24 EDT 2013)

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