at cross purposes

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at cross purposes

1. with different intentions. The two groups of advisors seemed to be working at cross purposes during this crisis.

2. in ways that are opposed to each other. The relief effort was characterized by a tendency to work at cross purposes instead of everyone working together.

See also: cross, purpose

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? References in classic literature
I tried him with some other questions, but his chattering, prompt responses were as often as not quite at cross purposes with my question. The Island of Doctor Moreau by Wells, H.G. View in context But they pulled at cross purposes, usually; and always they showed themselves to be acutely aware of the critical eyes all about them, and of the tongues that had nothing to do but to talk about what the eyes saw. Pollyanna by Porter, Eleanor H. View in context How somebody, lying in my bed, lay saying and doing all this over again, at cross purposes, in a feverish dream all night - the bed a rocking sea that was never still David Copperfield by Dickens, Charles View in context More results

References in classic literature

I tried him with some other questions, but his chattering, prompt responses were as often as not quite at cross purposes with my question.

The Island of Doctor Moreau by Wells, H.G. View in context

But they pulled at cross purposes, usually; and always they showed themselves to be acutely aware of the critical eyes all about them, and of the tongues that had nothing to do but to talk about what the eyes saw.

Pollyanna by Porter, Eleanor H. View in context

How somebody, lying in my bed, lay saying and doing all this over again, at cross purposes, in a feverish dream all night - the bed a rocking sea that was never still

David Copperfield by Dickens, Charles View in context

More results

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at all hours
at any cost
at any price
at any rate
at beck and call
at best
at convenience

at cross purposes
at cross-purposes
at death's door
at each other's throats
at earliest convenience
at ease
at elbow
at every turn

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