we crossed paths

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "we crossed paths" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation where two people meet or encounter each other, often by chance. Example: "During my travels, we crossed paths in a small café in Paris."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

34 human-written examples

Always love when we crossed paths.

Independent

"I like Southern culture," Mr. Inoue said excitedly when we crossed paths again that night.

The New York Times - Travel

"You happy?" the mayor asked me when we crossed paths again.

The New York Times

We crossed paths one night at a bar and I fell head over heels in love.

The Guardian - Books

At the wedding, when we crossed paths, Andrew would look away.

The Guardian - Books

But even when we crossed paths in the corridor, I didn't reveal to the surgeon the depth of my concern.

The Guardian - Opinion

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

25 human-written examples

"If we cross paths.

The Guardian - Sport

"In general, we both track migration questions, sometimes together, sometimes alone and often we cross paths," Mr. Liberti said.

The New York Times - Arts

All well and good – except that border force's Victorian commander, Don Smith, had earlier promised that the force would be "speaking with any individual we cross paths with".

The Guardian - Opinion

I still see him on and off, we cross paths on the road.I saw him at Pete Seeger's 90th birthday party at Madison Square Garden, and he's still going strong.

The Guardian - Music

Police sniffer dogs, electronic car license plate readers and booze buses were all to be used, while the border force's commander in Victoria, Don Smith, warned border force officers would be "speaking with any individual we cross paths with".

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "we crossed paths" to describe chance encounters or meetings, especially when emphasizing the brevity or unexpectedness of the meeting.

Common error

Avoid using "we crossed paths" when describing planned or arranged meetings. This phrase is best suited for unexpected or coincidental encounters.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "we crossed paths" functions as a verb phrase indicating an encounter or meeting between individuals. Ludwig examples show its use in describing both brief meetings and more significant life intersections.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

97%

Formal & Business

1%

Science

1%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "we crossed paths" is a common and grammatically correct way to describe an encounter or meeting, often by chance. According to Ludwig, it's particularly prevalent in news and media contexts. While versatile, it's best used for unplanned meetings rather than arranged ones. Alternatives like "we met" or "we encountered each other" can be used for more formal situations. Overall, the phrase is a useful addition to one's vocabulary for describing life's unexpected connections.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Our paths crossed

Rephrases the sentence in a passive form, putting emphasis on the paths instead of the subject.

We encountered each other

A more formal way of saying "we crossed paths".

We came across each other

Indicates a less planned or expected meeting.

We met

A simpler and more direct way of saying "we crossed paths".

We happened to meet

Emphasizes the coincidental nature of the meeting.

We bumped into each other

Suggests a chance encounter.

We ran into each other

Suggests a more casual and unplanned encounter.

Our lives intersected

A more figurative and broader way to express that two people's experiences briefly coincided.

We crossed trails

A more figurative way to express the paths, lives or experiences of the two or more subject met.

We were introduced

Suggests a more formal or arranged meeting.

FAQs

What does "we crossed paths" mean?

The phrase "we crossed paths" means that two or more people met or encountered each other, often unexpectedly or by chance.

What can I say instead of "we crossed paths"?

You can use alternatives like "we met", "we encountered each other", or "we bumped into each other" depending on the context.

Is it appropriate to use "we crossed paths" in formal writing?

While "we crossed paths" is generally acceptable, more formal alternatives such as "we met" or "our paths intersected" might be more suitable for formal writing.

How do I use "we crossed paths" in a sentence?

You can use "we crossed paths" to describe a meeting, such as, "We crossed paths at the conference last year", or "It was a coincidence that we crossed paths again after so many years".