Meaning of the word "at cross purposes" in English
What does "at cross purposes" mean in English? Explore the meaning, pronunciation, and specific usage of this word with Lingoland.
at cross purposes
US /æt krɔs ˈpɜrpəsɪz/
UK /æt krɔs ˈpɜrpəsɪz/
Idiom
1.
if two people are at cross purposes, they think that they are talking about the same thing but are in fact talking about different things, with the result that they do not understand each other
Example:
•
I think we're talking at cross purposes; I meant next Tuesday, not this Tuesday.
•
The two departments were constantly at cross purposes, leading to inefficiencies.
Learn This Word at Lingoland