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
cross the aislecross the linecross someone's pathdon't cross your bridge until you arriv…Dot Your I's and Cross Your T'scross the floorcross that bridge when one gets to itcross the rubiconcross that bridge when one gets thereCross that Bridge when You Come to Itdot the i's and cross the t'scross swordscross the linecross swords
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"cross-purpose." Phrases.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 21 Dec. 2024. <https://www.phrases.com/phrase/cross-purpose_11859>.
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