at cross-purposes

prepositional phrase

Mutually misunderstanding each other's plans, intentions or meanings.

“The PTO and the school board have been working at cross-purposes.”

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Meanings

prepositional phrase
  1. idiomaticMutually misunderstanding each other's plans, intentions or meanings.

    The PTO and the school board have been working at cross-purposes.

Cite this entry
APA

at cross-purposes. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/at%20cross-purposes

MLA

“at cross-purposes.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/at%20cross-purposes. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “at cross-purposes,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/at%20cross-purposes.

Source: at cross-purposes on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.