Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
to double-cross

to double-cross

32 6.5
Betray someone who trusts you after pretending to help them
  • verb
  • /ˈdʌbəlˌkrɔs/
: traicionar
  • She thought he was a friend, but he tried to double-cross her during the deal.
  • try to double-cross
  • think he double-crossed
  • going to double-cross

Double Don't double cross me, bitch.

Examples

Synonyms

to betray
vsto double-cross
111 4.1

Give people or information to an enemy

focuses on betrayal that follows pretending to support or work together
to sell down the river
vsto double-cross
  • Informal
12 8.8

To betray someone to get something for yourself

involves betrayal after pretending loyalty rather than only for profit
to backstab
vsto double-cross
  • Informal
5 6.6

To secretly betray someone who trusts you

focuses on betrayal after pretending to work or support rather than friendship
to play false
vsto double-cross
1 8.1

To trick someone who trusts you by hiding your real plans to get something for yourself

means active treachery after pretending to help rather than general concealed motives

Antonyms

to support
∞ 1.0

Give help to a person or idea

How Treacherous

backstab
  • Informal
1 7.8
to double-cross
32 6.5
to sell out
  • Informal
55 6.8
to betray
397 4.2
to let down
210 2.9

Surface Forms

double-cross infinitive
double-crossed past
double-crossed past participle
double-crossing present participle
double-crosses third person singular

Morphology

double-cross = double + cross (transparent) = double + cross

The meaning is directly derivable from 'double' (twice/intensifier) + 'cross' (betray), so learners who know the components can infer the verb.

Etymology

Double-cross comes from putting together double ('two') and cross ('to betray' or 'to go against'), which gives the picture of someone being two-faced. So, to double-cross someone is to pretend to help them and then secretly betray them.