at cross purposes
US /æt krɔs ˈpɜrpəsɪz/
UK /æt krɔs ˈpɜrpəsɪz/
1.
langs elkaar heen praten, met elkaar in de knoop zitten
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
:
•
I think we're talking at cross purposes; I meant next Tuesday, not this Tuesday.
Ik denk dat we langs elkaar heen praten; ik bedoelde volgende dinsdag, niet deze dinsdag.
•
The two departments were constantly at cross purposes, leading to inefficiencies.
De twee afdelingen werkten voortdurend langs elkaar heen, wat leidde tot inefficiëntie.