unexpectedly cross paths

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "unexpectedly cross paths" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe a situation where two people or things meet by chance in an unforeseen manner. Example: "While traveling in Paris, I unexpectedly crossed paths with an old friend from high school."

✓ Grammatically correct

Academia

Formal & Business

News & Media

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

Most affecting of all the chapters from this love-story-gone-wrong is Blank Expression, a forlorn torch song set to an about-to-fall-apart skank that finds our hero unexpectedly crossing paths with his ex.

The Guardian - Music

"If we cross paths.

The Guardian - Sport

The lines eventually cross paths about 1986.

The New York Times - Books

The two groups rarely cross paths.

The New York Times

A: I hope they cross paths.

The Washington Post

Johnson and Cravan would cross paths again, briefly.

The Guardian - Sport

We would probably never cross paths again.

HuffPost

We may cross paths in the future.

HuffPost

They have to cross paths sometimes.

Los Angeles Times

The novel follows Harit and Ranjana, whose paths unexpectedly cross as each struggles to handle a turbulent time in their lives.

Princeton University

Sometimes the most powerful mentor-mentee relationships "happen" as two wandering life paths unexpectedly cross.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "unexpectedly cross paths" to add a touch of narrative or figurative language to your writing, particularly when describing chance encounters in a story or anecdote. Consider if a more direct phrase like "meet unexpectedly" would be clearer in a formal context.

Common error

Avoid using "unexpectedly cross paths" too frequently in a single piece of writing. While grammatically correct, overuse can make your writing sound repetitive or contrived. Vary your language by using synonyms like "meet unexpectedly" or "encounter by chance".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "unexpectedly cross paths" functions as a verb phrase, indicating an action that occurs without prior planning or anticipation. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is a correct and usable phrase, depicting a chance encounter.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

News & Media

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Academia

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Formal & Business

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Less common in

Science

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Wiki

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Encyclopedias

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Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "unexpectedly cross paths" is a grammatically sound and usable expression to describe chance encounters. While Ludwig AI confirms its correctness, its frequency is currently limited. Alternative phrases like "meet unexpectedly" or "encounter by chance" may be suitable depending on the context. It's best used to add a touch of narrative and avoid overuse to keep writing fresh. Although versatile, being suitable for different registers (but neutral being the dominant), it's important to adapt the language to the specific needs of different registers.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

meet unexpectedly

Focuses on the act of meeting without prior planning, omitting the "paths" metaphor.

encounter by chance

Highlights the element of chance in the meeting, replacing "unexpectedly" with "by chance".

run into unexpectedly

Uses the phrasal verb "run into" to indicate a casual and unplanned meeting.

bump into unexpectedly

Similar to "run into", but suggests a more abrupt or surprising encounter.

chance upon

Emphasizes the accidental nature of the meeting or discovery.

meet by accident

Replaces "unexpectedly" with "by accident", directly stating the lack of intention.

coincidentally meet

Highlights the coincidence of the meeting.

serendipitously meet

Implies a fortunate or pleasant surprise in the unexpected meeting.

paths converge unexpectedly

Replaces "cross paths" with the more formal "paths converge", maintaining the metaphor but with different vocabulary.

paths meet by surprise

Combines the "paths" metaphor with the element of surprise.

FAQs

How can I use "unexpectedly cross paths" in a sentence?

You can use "unexpectedly cross paths" to describe a chance meeting or encounter. For example, "During my trip to Italy, I "unexpectedly crossed paths" with a former colleague."

What are some alternatives to "unexpectedly cross paths"?

Alternatives include "meet unexpectedly", "encounter by chance", or "run into unexpectedly". The best choice depends on the specific context and desired tone.

Is it more formal to say "unexpectedly cross paths" or "meet unexpectedly"?

"Meet unexpectedly" is generally considered more direct and suitable for formal contexts. "Unexpectedly cross paths" has a slightly more narrative or figurative feel.

Can "unexpectedly cross paths" be used to describe events or only people?

While it's most commonly used to describe people meeting, it can metaphorically describe events or ideas that connect in an unplanned way. For instance, "The two research projects "unexpectedly crossed paths" when they both discovered a similar result."