cross purpose

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "cross purpose" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when two people or groups of people have different objectives that conflict with each other. For example, "The two campaign managers had conflicting goals, creating a cross purpose between them."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

July 25 at 7 30 p.m. Cross Purpose Band, rock and blues.

The New York Times

Ironically, his plays are the least-admired part of his literary output, although Le Malentendu (Cross Purpose) and Caligula, first produced in 1944 and 1945, respectively, remain landmarks in the Theatre of the Absurd.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Selling new stock would be at cross purpose to that.

Forbes

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

"I'm at cross purposes," he lamented.

The New Yorker

The two men talk at cross purposes.

Independent

Goodman then wrote: "Apols – cross purposes.

The Guardian

Moreover, some older policies work at cross purposes.

The New York Times

I think we may be at cross purposes here.

The Guardian

However, critics say the government is working at cross purposes.

The New York Times

Sometimes these two roles work at cross purposes.

The Economist

Often, the numbers work at cross purposes, as when increasing shield material decreases available payload.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider stronger synonyms if the situation involves active hostility rather than just differing goals.

Common error

Don't use "cross purpose" when parties are simply pursuing independent goals. It implies that those goals are actively hindering each other, not merely existing separately.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "cross purpose" functions primarily as a noun phrase, often used with prepositions like "at" or "to" to describe a state of conflicting objectives or misunderstandings. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it's grammatically sound.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33.3%

Encyclopedias

33.3%

Formal & Business

33.3%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "cross purpose" describes a situation where individuals or entities are working against each other, often due to conflicting goals or misunderstandings. While grammatically correct and usable, according to Ludwig AI, it is relatively rare. Its usage is prevalent in news and media, encyclopedias and formal business contexts. When employing "cross purpose", clarity is essential to ensure the conflicting elements are well-defined, and you may want to consider using synonyms if a stronger emphasis on active conflict is required. The expert rating reflects the phrase's grammatical soundness and presence in reputable sources, though its limited frequency influences the overall score.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

conflicting objectives

Focuses on the conflicting nature of the goals.

misaligned goals

Highlights the lack of alignment between different objectives.

opposing aims

Emphasizes the adversarial nature of the objectives.

at odds

Implies a state of disagreement or conflict.

in disagreement

Directly states the presence of a disagreement.

working at loggerheads

Suggests a state of deadlock or stalemate.

in conflict

Highlights the presence of a conflict.

at variance

Emphasizes the divergence or difference.

discordant intentions

Focuses on the lack of harmony between intentions.

dissonant objectives

Emphasizes the lack of agreement between the objectives.

FAQs

How can I use "cross purpose" in a sentence?

You can use "cross purpose" to describe situations where different entities or goals are working against each other. For instance: "The two departments were working at "cross purpose", hindering the project's progress."

What does it mean to say that two people are at "cross purpose"?

When two people are at "cross purpose", it means they have "conflicting objectives" or misunderstand each other's intentions, leading to ineffective or counterproductive actions.

Are there any alternatives to the phrase "cross purpose"?

Yes, you can use phrases like "conflicting objectives", "misaligned goals", or "opposing aims" as alternatives to "cross purpose", depending on the specific context.

How does "cross purpose" differ from simply having different goals?

"Cross purpose" implies that the different goals are actively interfering with each other, creating a conflict or hindering progress. Simply having different goals doesn't necessarily mean the goals are at "cross purpose".