Schoolboy error Meaning in English
expression
ˈskuɫˌbɔɪ/ /ˈɛɹɝ
SKOOL-boy ERR-ur
skˈuːlbɔɪ/ /ˈɛɹɐ
SKOOL-boy ERR-uh
Definition
A simple mistake that someone should not make, especially because it’s something that beginners or young students might do.
Usage & Nuances
This is informal and often used to criticize avoidable mistakes, especially by professionals. Common collocation: 'That was a schoolboy error.' Not literally about schoolboys—applies to anyone making an obvious mistake.
Spanish: error de principiante - error de novatoPortuguese (BR): erro de principiante - erro básicoPortuguese (PT): erro de principiante - erro básicoChinese (Simplified): 低级错误 - 初级错误Chinese (Traditional): 低級錯誤 - 初級錯誤Hindi: मूर्खतापूर्ण गलती - शुरुआती गलतीArabic: خطأ مبتدئ - خطأ ساذجBengali: শিশুসুলভ ভুল - ছোটখাটো ভুলRussian: детская ошибка - элементарная ошибкаJapanese: 初歩的なミス - 子供じみたミスVietnamese: lỗi sơ đẳng - lỗi ngớ ngẩnKorean: 기초적인 실수 - 초보적인 실수Turkish: acemi hatası - çocukça hataUrdu: ابتدائی غلطی - بچوں جیسی غلطیIndonesian: kesalahan sepele - kesalahan pemula
Example Sentences
He made a schoolboy error on his first day at work.
basic
Leaving the door unlocked was a schoolboy error.
basic
Forgetting to save the file was a schoolboy error.
basic
That missed goal was a total schoolboy error from the striker.
natural
Come on, that’s a schoolboy error! You should know better.
natural
Even experts sometimes slip up and make a schoolboy error.
natural