common wavelength
- noun
- Informal
- After several debates, the team members finally got on a common wavelength and made a decision.
Examples
-
It took a few meetings before the new manager and her staff found a common wavelength.
-
Friends often share a common wavelength, making communication easy and natural.
-
They are on the same common wavelength.
-
It's great when friends are on a common wavelength.
-
After several debates, the team members finally found a common wavelength to agree on the project direction.
-
When working together, it's beneficial for colleagues to be on a common wavelength to enhance collaboration.
-
Having a common wavelength allows family members to communicate more openly and effectively.
Synonyms
89
3.4
Having the same view about a plan or goal
81
3.2
Shared ideas or interests that help people agree and work together
27
7.1
A strong feeling of understanding and connection between people
14
3.9
A situation where two people understand each other and get along
13
4.5
A similar way of thinking that helps people understand each other easily
8
3.8
Share the same ideas and understand each other
7
3.4
A situation where two or more people share the same feelings and ideas
6
4.2
Complete agreement and understanding between people that lets them work together
5
7.2
Agreement in opinion or plan among people
1
7.7
Agreement and harmony between people or things
1
9.9
A shared understanding that helps people communicate and work together
Antonyms
215
1.6
When someone does not understand something correctly and this causes a problem
How Aligned
110
4.4
- Informal
∞
1.0
231
1.6
215
1.6
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning is directly compositional: 'common' = shared and 'wavelength' = pattern of thought/feeling, so together they denote a shared pattern of thinking — i.e., mutual understanding. This metaphorical extension is frequent and appears in many languages (e.g., 'on the same wavelength' / 'en la misma onda'), so a learner who knows both constituents can infer the MWE.
Etymology
Common wavelength may come from radio images: when two radios use the same wavelength their signals match and they hear each other clearly. So when people are on a common wavelength, they understand each other and agree, or are in 'mutual understanding'.