10 Useful Expressions with WRONG in English

English contains many useful idioms, collocations and fixed phrases with the word wrong. Learning these expressions will help you understand everyday conversations and make your English sound more natural. In this lesson, you will learn ten common expressions with wrong, with clear meanings, natural examples and a short practice exercise.

1. The Wrong Way Round/Around

When something is the wrong way round or the wrong way around, its parts have been placed in the opposite or incorrect order or direction.

The wrong way round is particularly common in British English, while the wrong way around is more common in American English. Both forms are widely understood.

• The remote control wasn’t working because I had put the batteries in the wrong way round.
• You’re wearing your jumper the wrong way around. The label should be at the back.

2. Be in the Wrong Place at the Wrong Time

Someone who is in the wrong place at the wrong time becomes involved in an unpleasant or dangerous situation through bad luck rather than through any fault of their own.

• The man was injured during the robbery simply because he was in the wrong place at the wrong time.
• I wasn’t involved in the argument. I was just in the wrong place at the wrong time.

3. Be on the Wrong Track

To be on the wrong track means to follow an incorrect idea, method or line of investigation.

• The police realised that they had been on the wrong track when new evidence appeared.
• You’re on the wrong track if you think the problem is caused by the software.

The opposite expression is be on the right track.

• Your first paragraph needs some improvement, but you’re definitely on the right track.

4. Get or Start Off on the Wrong Foot

To get off on the wrong foot or start off on the wrong foot means to make a bad start, particularly in a relationship or a new situation.

• Lucy got off on the wrong foot with her new colleague when she criticised him during their first meeting.
• I started off on the wrong foot with my neighbour, but we get on very well now.

You can also say that two people got off on the wrong foot with each other.

5. Get the Wrong End of the Stick

If you get the wrong end of the stick, you misunderstand a situation, explanation or remark.

• Darren got the wrong end of the stick and thought that we were organising a party for him.
• You’ve got the wrong end of the stick. I didn’t say I was leaving the company.

Common Mistake

The correct expression is: get the wrong end of the stick

Not: get the wrong way of the stick

6. Fall into the Wrong Hands

If something falls into the wrong hands, it is obtained by someone who may use it in a harmful, dishonest or irresponsible way.

This expression is often used with confidential information, documents, weapons, technology or personal data.

• The documents must be kept safe in case they fall into the wrong hands.
• Personal information can be dangerous if it falls into the wrong hands.

7. Get on the Wrong Side of Someone

To get on the wrong side of someone means to annoy or offend them and cause them to dislike you.

• I got on the wrong side of Linda when I forgot to invite her to the meeting.
• You don’t want to get on the wrong side of the manager during your first week.

We normally use this expression when the person has some influence over us or can make a situation difficult.

8. The Wrong Way Up

Something that is the wrong way up has its top at the bottom. In other words, it is upside down.

• Be careful with that box. It’s the wrong way up.
• I hung the picture on the wall, but then I realised it was the wrong way up.

Wrong Way Round or Wrong Way Up?

These expressions are similar, but they are not always interchangeable.

• The wrong way round means that the order, direction, front or back is reversed.
• The wrong way up means that the top and bottom are reversed.

9. Take Something the Wrong Way

If you take something the wrong way, you misunderstand someone’s words or intentions and often feel hurt or offended.

• Please don’t take this the wrong way, but I think your introduction is too long.
• Mary took his joke the wrong way and refused to speak to him.

The phrase Don’t take this the wrong way, but… is often used before giving criticism or expressing an opinion that might upset someone.

However, use it carefully. It does not automatically make a rude comment polite!

10. Go Wrong

When something goes wrong, it fails, develops a problem or does not happen as expected.

• Something went wrong with the washing machine, and the kitchen flooded.
• Everything went wrong during the presentation.
• What could possibly go wrong?
• If anything goes wrong, call me immediately.
• The plan seemed perfect, but it went badly wrong.

Although go wrong can sometimes refer to a mistake, it does not simply mean make a mistake. It usually describes a situation, machine, plan or process that fails or develops problems.

expressions with wrong

Expressions with “Wrong”: Practice Exercise

Complete the sentences with the correct expressions. Change the form when necessary.

1. I thought the meeting was on Friday, but I had __________________________.
2. Please turn the photograph around. It’s __________________________.
3. The investigation was __________________________ until the police discovered some new evidence.
4. We must protect this information so that it does not __________________________.
5. I __________________________ with my new boss by arriving late on my first day.
6. Don’t __________________________, but I think this colour is too dark for the room.
7. The whole event __________________________ when the electricity suddenly went off.
8. He witnessed the accident because he was __________________________.

Answers: 1. got the wrong end of the stick, 2. the wrong way up, 3. on the wrong track, 4. fall into the wrong hands, 5. got off on the wrong foot, 6. take this the wrong way, 7. went wrong, 8. in the wrong place at the wrong time

Final Thoughts

Expressions with wrong appear frequently in everyday conversations, films, television programmes and news reports. Try to learn them as complete phrases rather than translating each word separately.

Choose two or three expressions from this lesson and write your own example sentences. The more often you use them, the easier they will be to remember.

At My Lingua Academy, you can find many more lessons on English vocabulary, grammar, idioms, collocations and phrasal verbs. You can also join our individual online English lessons to improve your speaking, writing and exam skills.

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