cross-purpose
cross-purpose · cross-purposes
A contrary or conflicting purpose or understanding, especially an unintentional or…A contrary or conflicting purpose or understanding, especially an unintentional or misconceived one.
Meaning
1 senses(idiomatic)A contrary or conflicting purpose or understanding, especially an unintentional or misconceived one.
We are working at cross-purposes here, if you're trying to reduce the count and I'm trying to increase it.
More definitions
- a contrary aim
Translations
1 languagesOrigin
Attested (in the plural form) since the 1660s, originally meaning ‘contradictory intentionAttested (in the plural form) since the 1660s, originally meaning ‘contradictory intentions.’
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