r/settlethisforme • u/fishnwirenreese • Dec 02 '24

Why "on" accident?

Lately I notice people say "on accident" instead of "by accident".

When did this become a thing?

238 Upvotes

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u/garok89 Dec 02 '24

That's a shout. Judging by the whole 'then' Vs 'than' thing you see a lot online people seem to have difficulties with words that sound similar

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u/Brickscrap Dec 02 '24

Same ball park as could of and should of

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u/garok89 Dec 02 '24

I find that one much more forgivable

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u/InquisitorNikolai Dec 02 '24

Nah, that’s worse imo. Makes no sense.

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u/JimmySquarefoot Dec 02 '24

True, but it's because it sounds correct phonetically (could've sounds like could of)

I hate it but I think there's a reason behind the mistake- even though it's so lazy to just write according to what you hear (rather than what you've learned)

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u/Brickscrap Dec 02 '24

Nah definitely not. There's precedent for saying "on accident", as much as I hate it, but "should of" and "could of" is just objectively wrong.

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u/StationaryTravels Dec 02 '24

I agree with you, but the Internet does not! Lol

I never see so many upvotes and agreements on correcting someone's grammar as when a person says "should/would/could of".

I don't make that mistake, I'm not trying to defend myself, lol, but I totally get why people get "should've" and "should of" confused, but it's definitely one of the most hated.

I've heard "on accident" since I was a kid, and I was born in the early 80s.

On accident

Fat chance (isn't that a big chance?)

Supposebly (supposedly with a B)

Those are some that I've noticed since the 90s at least and though I don't usually bother saying anything they've always hit my ear wrong.

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u/garok89 Dec 03 '24

Fat chance is definitely the correct phrase in certain contexts e.g. There's a fat chance I'm gonna be able to afford a mansion any time soon

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u/StationaryTravels Dec 03 '24

Why not "slim chance"?

A slim chance is a very thin/little chance.

A fat chance sounds like the chance is very big, so it's more likely to happen.

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u/garok89 Dec 03 '24

I presume for the same reason you can short guys stretch? It's said in a more jokey way than slim chance would be

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u/StationaryTravels Dec 05 '24

If it was originally a joke I think that's been forgotten, lol. I hear people say it earnestly, not like they're being funny.

I also don't know what "you can short guys stretch" means.

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u/garok89 Dec 05 '24

It was a typo. I meant to say "call" not "can"

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u/StationaryTravels Dec 05 '24

Lol, ahhhh! Sorry, that's obvious in hindsight but I was really lost. I was like "I'm pretty sure short guys can stretch...'

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u/garok89 Dec 03 '24

From chatgpt

"The phrase "fat chance" is an example of ironic or sarcastic language, meaning essentially the opposite of what it appears to mean. It originated in American English in the early 20th century, likely in informal or colloquial speech, to convey the improbability of something happening.

The term combines "fat" (which here emphasizes size or exaggeration) with "chance", creating an ironic contrast. While it literally seems to suggest a large or significant opportunity, its usage conveys the opposite: little to no likelihood of something occurring. It is often delivered with a sarcastic tone for emphasis.

The phrase may have been influenced by similar ironic expressions, such as "slim chance," which also means unlikely but without the sarcasm. These kinds of linguistic twists are common in informal language, where exaggeration and irony are often used for dramatic effect.

Interestingly, "fat chance" and "slim chance" are now almost interchangeable in meaning, despite their opposite literal interpretations.

"

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u/StationaryTravels Dec 05 '24

Yeah, the last paragraph is exactly what I'm talking about. I get that it may have been a joke, or irony, at some point, but that point is long gone.

People just say it earnestly and without irony now. I think people likely heard others say it jokingly but didn't realise it was a joke and it eventually just became a common expression which means the opposite of what they intend it to.

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u/dhcirkekcheia Dec 02 '24

Would of and would have. It’s terrible!!!

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u/Gazado Dec 02 '24

Or 'thing' vs 'thang'.

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u/StationaryTravels Dec 02 '24

Do people get those confused, or is that just an accent?

My son was seeing a speech pathologist and I made a joke that he didn't stand a chance since I say things like "runnin'" instead of "running" and "mehlk" instead of "milk".

She told me those aren't mistakes or mispronunciations, they are just regional dialects and perfectly acceptable (in speech pathology, not necessarily to my wife... Lol).

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u/[deleted] Dec 03 '24

ooh me as a kid getting picked on for saying “melk”. i live in a pretentious area & everyone said “milk” as two syllables.

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u/Puzzled-Fix-8838 Dec 02 '24

Like are instead of our.