cross-purpose
1
5.8
- noun
- /ˈkrɔsˌpɜr.pəs/
:
propósitos cruzados
- Okay, I see where we have been talking at cross-purposes now.
So we shouldn't be at cross purposes, you could say.
- So we shouldn't be at cross purposes, you could say.
- That's my term for the person who is at cross purposes with the hero.
- If we look at a case where they get at cross purposes, Google is a tremendous case in point.
- And of course that's it cross purposes with with how we're kind of wired, right?
- I mean, it's just far short of it developing its own goals and that that is that are at cross purposes with ours.
Examples
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That there were a great many groups working toward the "resettlement" of the Japanese Americans often meant that they worked at cross-purposes with each other, which, from time to time, resulted in veritable "turf wars." 27
Academic text (2004) -
During the meeting, it became clear that the managers were speaking at cross purposes, causing misunderstandings about the project's direction.
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If we look at a case where they get at cross purposes, Google is a tremendous case in point.
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Is it possible to divide business interests so that some business interests are working at cross purposes with other business interests?
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We are talking at cross-purposes then.
Blog text (5) -
I mean all of that and everyone has to make sure they're all not working at cross purposes with each other.
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Different levels and sectors of government frequently acted at cross-purposes, took only token measures, or ignored the problem altogether.
Academic text (1992) -
The team's conflicting strategies led to a situation where they were working at cross purposes, resulting in confusion during the project.
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When two departments have different goals, they often find themselves at cross purposes, which hinders overall progress.
Synonyms
A disagreement between ideas, people, or interests
Antonyms
How Conflicting
Surface Forms
Morphology
Etymology
Cross-purpose joins cross ('against' or 'across') and purpose ('goal' or 'intention'). So, when people are at cross-purpose they are aiming in different directions or working against each other, which explains the confusion and the failure to get things done.