The phrase “cross purposes” refers to a situation where two or more people are working towards different or conflicting goals, often without realizing it. When people are at cross purposes, they are unintentionally opposing each other or misunderstanding each other’s intentions. This can create confusion, frustration, or inefficiency, as their actions or plans conflict, even though they may believe they are working toward a common objective. The phrase often highlights the lack of coordination or miscommunication between individuals. In Indonesian, this might be expressed as “tujuan yang bertentangan” or “berbeda tujuan”.
Synonyms:
- Misunderstanding
- Conflicting goals
- Incompatible intentions
- Diverging objectives
- Opposing views
- Mixed signals
- Contradictory aims
- Misalignment
- Disagreement
- Clash of interests
Example Sentences:
- They were working at cross purposes, trying to solve the same problem but with completely different approaches.
- Our plans for the weekend were at cross purposes, so we had to reschedule everything.
- The two departments were at cross purposes, with one focusing on cutting costs and the other pushing for more investment.
- The negotiations failed because the two parties were at cross purposes, each thinking they were agreeing to different terms.
- Their efforts were at cross purposes, and the project ended up delayed because of the confusion.
- I think we’re at cross purposes—I meant one thing, and you understood something completely different.
- The team’s strategies were at cross purposes, which led to a breakdown in communication.
- Their goals were at cross purposes; one wanted to expand, while the other was looking to downsize.
- They kept arguing because they were at cross purposes about what the true goal of the project was.
- When we tried to make the decision, we realized we were at cross purposes and had to clarify our priorities.
Related Words:
- Miscommunication
- Confusion
- Conflict
- Disagreement
- Misalignment
- Tension
- Divergence
- Contradiction
- Discrepancy
- Clash
Related Phrasal Verbs:
- Talk past someone (to speak to someone without addressing their concerns or understanding their point, often leading to being at cross purposes)
- Go in different directions (to pursue different or conflicting goals, similar to being at cross purposes)
- Get on the same page (to align goals or intentions to avoid being at cross purposes)
- Misunderstand each other (to fail to grasp each other’s point of view, often resulting in being at cross purposes)
- Work against each other (to actively or unintentionally oppose one another’s efforts, like being at cross purposes)
- Run into conflict (to encounter disagreement or opposition, which can happen when people are at cross purposes)
- Fall out of sync (to become misaligned or disconnected, leading to being at cross purposes)
- Clash over (to disagree or conflict over something, often due to different purposes or goals)
- Get wires crossed (to experience confusion or misunderstanding, often leading to being at cross purposes)
- Miss the point (to misunderstand someone’s intention or goal, often resulting in cross purposes)
Idiomatic Expressions:
- On different wavelengths (to not understand each other or be on the same page, like being at cross purposes)
- Pull in different directions (to have conflicting goals or priorities, leading to being at cross purposes)
- Not on the same page (to be out of alignment or agreement, like being at cross purposes)
- Barking up the wrong tree (to pursue the wrong course of action or misunderstanding someone’s intent, similar to being at cross purposes)
- At odds with (to be in disagreement or conflict, often from differing purposes or goals)
- Throw a wrench in the works (to disrupt something due to conflicting ideas or purposes, similar to being at cross purposes)
- A clash of ideologies (a direct conflict of goals or beliefs, akin to being at cross purposes)
- Lost in translation (when the meaning or purpose is misunderstood, causing confusion or cross purposes)
- Speak at cross purposes (to talk without understanding each other’s intent, resulting in conflicting goals)
- Piss in the wind (to take actions that are futile or counterproductive, often because of being at cross purposes)
When people or groups are at cross purposes, it often results from poor communication or unclear goals. It’s a reminder that even when individuals or teams are working toward a common objective, differing methods, understandings, or priorities can cause friction or make progress more difficult. Avoiding being at cross purposes typically requires open communication and alignment of intentions.