A contrary or conflicting purpose or understanding, especially an unintentional or misconceived one.
Etymology:
- Attested since the 1660s, originally meaning ‘contradictory intentions.’
- 7 Views
“
We are working at cross-purposes here, if you're trying to reduce the count and I'm trying to increase it.
Submitted on July 07, 2010
Additional definitions for 'cross-purpose':
| cross-purpose | A conversational game, in which questions and answers are made so as to involve ludicrous combinations of ideas. |
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Nearby phrases
Some more phrases from our dictionary similar to cross-purpose
hot cross bunsdon't cross your bridge until you arriv…cross someone's pathcross the floorcross the aislecross swordscross swordscross the linecross swordsdot the i's and cross the t'sCross that Bridge when You Come to Itcross that bridge when one gets therecross the rubiconDot Your I's and Cross Your T's
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"cross-purpose." Phrases.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 22 Dec. 2024. <https://www.phrases.com/phrase/cross-purpose_11859>.
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