It was all a mistake of course, but nonetheless a silly, avoidable mistake.

First, we asked them to discuss an avoidable mistake the United Nations had made within the last five years.

He asked himself angrily how he had come to make such an easily avoidable mistake.

Many had flowered, risen to great heights, only to be brought crashing down by some stupid, avoidable mistake.

And when there are avoidable mistakes, he lets his feelings be known - sometimes in a way that comes across as excessive.

Pentagon officials said the shooting down of the helicopters occurred after a series of avoidable mistakes.

All too often, avoidable mistakes turn what could have been a great business into an also-ran.

In 1998, Gingrich said that these comments were his "single most avoidable mistake" as Speaker.

Too bad he sees lives like mine as avoidable mistakes.

David Boies believed it was an avoidable mistake made by the Microsoft attorneys.