Brits are frequently left red-faced after suffering as many as 84 mishaps a year – with sending a text to the wrong person topping their list of blunders, research has found.
Other unfortunate incidents include getting on the wrong train or bus, accidentally shrinking clothes or turning them a different colour in the wash, and greeting someone you thought you knew – only to realise it was a complete stranger.
One in ten (11%) have accidentally dropped a book in the bath while reading during a nice soak, and 16% have forgotten they made plans – and failed to turn up to an event.
And the survey of 2,000 adults found that almost a third (31%) admit to making the same blunder on more than one occasion.
But thankfully, almost half (45%) feel they could laugh about their mishap afterwards – and 21% say they learned something from it.
The research was commissioned by Compare the Market, to launch its new, mishap-prone character, Carl the Wombat.
Ursula Gibbs, director at the price comparison website, said: “These misfortunes are a part of life, and we can all make them.
“Whether it’s getting the wrong currency for a holiday, or booking a train for the wrong time, many of us can relate.
“Our findings show it can happen to anyone, and everyone can relate to making a mishap.”
The research also found the most common places for mishaps to occur are in your own home (17%), at work (17%), and in the supermarket (9%).
In the pub (7%) and on holiday (7%) also ranked among the top five.
And it emerged that 87% think mistakes and mishaps are simply an inevitable part of life – no matter how hard you try to avoid them.
In fact, 22% said the strongest emotion they feel when they see others suffer a similar fate is empathy.
Nearly two-thirds (63%) even feel the innocent mishaps should be celebrated, as they’re a part of what makes us human.
Of those who usually try to speak to someone about their mishap, 52% chat to their partner, while 44% speak to their mum or relatives, and 38% go to their friends.
Ursula Gibbs, director at Compare the Market, added: “No-one is able to avoid making a mistake or two, as it’s a part of life.
“But it’s great to see so many people feel they have learned from their experience, and been able to laugh about it afterwards.
“Our new character, Carl the Wombat, is no stranger to a mishap, with his well-intentioned decisions not quite working out for him.
“But as our results show, innocent mishaps are an inevitable and positive part of life and learning.”
TOP 20 MISHAPS BRITS HAVE ENDURED...
- Sent a text to the wrong person
- Mistook a stranger for someone you knew, and greeted them
- Got on the wrong train or bus
- Washed clothes and accidentally shrunk them
- Washed clothes and accidentally turned them a different colour
- Forgot about a meal that you were cooking, and it spoiled
- Prepped a meal for work but forgot to take it in
- Put a laundry load on for a wash but forgot to add detergent
- Had your phone go off in a place it should have been on silent
- Tried to unlock your car before realising it was someone else's
- Forgot to cancel subscriptions you never use
- Forgot about plans and didn't turn up to an event
- Bought a piece of furniture for the house but didn’t check the dimensions, and it was a lot smaller or larger than realised
- Accidentally sat on the TV remote control and missed a key moment on live TV
- Let an insurance policy automatically renew without realising
- Forgot to connect your headphones, so everyone could hear your music
- Put the wrong destination in the sat-nav
- Bought the wrong ingredients for a meal, and had to make a bodge job dinner
- Dropped your book in the bath while reading
- Ordered the wrong thing in a restaurant by accident
