it makes me cross

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it makes me cross" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to express that something is causing you to feel angry or annoyed. Example: "When people are late without informing me, it makes me cross."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Lifestyle

Tech

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

"It makes me cross.

The Guardian

"It's why it makes me cross when they say that all politicians are the same," says Clarke.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

It made me cross that some girls would bring in notes from their parents saying "She is not allowed to eat so and so".

The Guardian - Lifestyle

We were discussing live screenings and the challenges they pose at a board meeting a few months ago and someone said: "Wouldn't it be funny if one day a big theatre screened one of our shows from a village hall?" It made me cross at the time, but then I thought, well, why not?

The Guardian

"When there was talk of Alan Turing being given a pardon, it made me cross, because you don't give a pardon to an innocent person — only if one is guilty.

Vice

What makes me cross is that Apple has deliberately restricted the life of my iPad.

The Guardian - Tech

Sometimes that passion has allowed me to find that little something extra I needed to win, and other times it's made me cross the line.

Huffington Post

It would have made me cross and disappointed to find it had changed over the holiday and we hadn't done it ourselves".

The Guardian

As for me, it would take cold hard cash to make me cross over.

The New York Times

And it's a series that I think might make me cross, bordering on nationalistic, if I was Cornish.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Now why does this make me cross?

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "it makes me cross" to express mild annoyance or irritation, especially in informal contexts. It's a more nuanced way of expressing anger than simply saying "it makes me angry".

Common error

While "it makes me cross" is acceptable, it might sound too informal or colloquial in professional or academic writing. Opt for alternatives like "it frustrates me" or "it is displeasing to me" to maintain a more appropriate tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it makes me cross" functions as an expression of subjective feeling, specifically indicating that something elicits a sense of annoyance or irritation. According to Ludwig AI, this phrase is considered correct and usable.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Lifestyle

20%

Tech

10%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Science

5%

Formal & Business

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "it makes me cross" is a common and grammatically sound way to express annoyance or irritation. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English. While versatile, it's important to consider the context: in more formal settings, alternatives like "it frustrates me" or "it displeases me" may be more appropriate. The expression appears frequently in News & Media and Lifestyle content. When aiming to convey displeasure, "it makes me cross" offers a useful, albeit relatively mild, option.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it irritates me

Replaces "makes me cross" with a more direct synonym, focusing on the feeling of irritation.

it angers me

Substitutes "makes me cross" with a stronger expression of anger.

it annoys me

Offers a more general term for displeasure, replacing the more specific "cross".

it frustrates me

Indicates a feeling of being thwarted or prevented from achieving something.

it bothers me

Expresses a sense of disturbance or mild irritation.

it displeases me

A more formal way of saying something causes dissatisfaction.

it rubs me the wrong way

An idiomatic expression indicating something is irritating or unpleasant.

it gets on my nerves

Another idiomatic expression signifying something is highly irritating.

it riles me up

Suggests a more agitated state of anger, indicating a stronger emotional response.

it puts my back up

An idiomatic expression meaning something makes you defensive or angry.

FAQs

What does the phrase "it makes me cross" mean?

The phrase "it makes me cross" means that something is causing you to feel annoyed, irritated, or slightly angry. It's a way to express displeasure in a relatively mild manner.

What can I say instead of "it makes me cross"?

You can use alternatives like "it irritates me", "it annoys me", or "it frustrates me" depending on the level of intensity you want to convey.

Is "it makes me cross" appropriate for formal writing?

While grammatically correct, "it makes me cross" is generally considered informal. In formal writing, consider using phrases like "it displeases me" or "it causes me dissatisfaction" for a more professional tone.

What's the difference between "it makes me cross" and "it makes me angry"?

"It makes me cross" implies a lighter sense of annoyance or irritation, while "it makes me angry" suggests a stronger feeling of displeasure and potential rage. The choice depends on the intensity of the emotion you wish to express.