At Cross Purposes

Pronunciation: /æt krɔs ˈpɜrpəsɪz/

Definitions of at cross purposes

noun A word that represents a person, place, thing, or idea. In this phrase, 'purposes' is a noun referring to the reasons or intentions behind someone's actions.

Example Sentences

A1 They were working at cross purposes, making it difficult to achieve their goal.

A2 The team members were at cross purposes, each wanting to take the project in a different direction.

B1 The two departments were at cross purposes, causing confusion and delays in the project.

B2 The politicians seemed to be at cross purposes, unable to come to a consensus on the new policy.

C1 The CEO and the board of directors were at cross purposes, leading to a power struggle within the company.

C2 The two countries were at cross purposes in their negotiations, unable to find common ground on the trade agreement.

adjective A word that describes or modifies a noun. In this phrase, 'cross' is an adjective indicating a situation where two or more things are in opposition or conflict with each other.

Example Sentences

A1 The two friends were at cross purposes when they couldn't agree on what movie to watch.

A2 The team members were at cross purposes during the meeting, causing confusion and delays.

B1 The manager and the employee were at cross purposes regarding the project timeline.

B2 The political parties were at cross purposes in their negotiations, making it difficult to reach a compromise.

C1 The scientists and policymakers were at cross purposes in their approach to addressing climate change.

C2 The artists and critics were at cross purposes in their interpretations of the painting, leading to heated debates.

preposition A word that shows the relationship between a noun (or pronoun) and other words in a sentence. In this case, 'at' is a preposition indicating a specific location or position.

Example Sentences

A1 The two teams were at cross purposes during the meeting.

A2 The students and the teacher were at cross purposes when discussing the assignment.

B1 The manager and the employee were at cross purposes about the project timeline.

B2 The government officials and the environmental activists were at cross purposes regarding the new policy.

C1 The two countries were at cross purposes in their negotiations over the trade agreement.

C2 The artist and the curator were at cross purposes when planning the exhibition layout.

Examples of at cross purposes in a Sentence

formal The two departments seemed to be working at cross purposes, unable to align their strategies.

informal It was clear that they were at cross purposes when they couldn't agree on a plan.

slang They were totally at cross purposes, like two ships passing in the night.

figurative Their relationship was strained, as if they were constantly at cross purposes with each other.

Grammatical Forms of at cross purposes

• past tense: were at cross purposes
• plural: are at cross purposes
• comparative: more at cross purposes
• superlative: most at cross purposes
• present tense: are at cross purposes
• future tense: will be at cross purposes
• perfect tense: have been at cross purposes
• continuous tense: are being at cross purposes
• singular: is at cross purposes
• positive degree: at cross purposes
• infinitive: to be at cross purposes
• gerund: being at cross purposes
• participle: at cross purposes

Origin and Evolution of at cross purposes

First Known Use: 1601 year

Language of Origin: English

Story behind the word: The phrase 'at cross purposes' originated from the idea of two people or parties having conflicting or opposing goals or intentions, resulting in a misunderstanding or miscommunication.

Evolution of the word: Originally used in the 17th century, the phrase 'at cross purposes' has continued to be used in modern English to describe situations where individuals or groups are working against each other unknowingly, leading to confusion or conflict.