purpose (redirected from purposes)

accidentally-on-purpose

Inf. deliberate, but meant to look like an accident. Then, I accidentally-on-purpose spilled water on him.

answer someone's purpose and serve someone's purpose

to fit or suit someone's aim or goal. This piece of wood will answer my purpose quite nicely. The new car serves our purpose perfectly.

See also: answer

at cross-purposes

with opposing viewpoints; with goals that interfere with each other. We are arguing at cross-purposes. We aren't even discussing the same thing. Bill and Tom are working at cross-purposes. They'll never get the job done right.

devil can quote Scripture for his own purpose and devil can cite Scripture for his own purpose

Prov. Evil people sometimes try to win the confidence of good people by quoting persuasive passages of Scripture.; Just because someone can quote Scripture to support his or her argument does not mean that the argument is virtuous. (Scripture usually refers to the Bible, but it can refer to other religious writings.) Sadie: Dad, you really ought to give me permission to go out with Nathan. He's such a polite boy, and he can even quote the Bible. Father: The devil can quote Scripture for his own purpose.

See also: can, devil, his, quote

for someone (or something's) sake and for the sake of someone or something

for the purpose or benefit of someone or something; to satisfy the demands of someone or something. I made a meatless dinner for John's sake; he's a vegetarian. The teacher repeated the assignment for the sake of the slower students.

See also: sake

for all intents and purposes

Cliché seeming as if; looking as if. Tom stood there, looking, for all intents and purposes, as if he could strangle Sally, but, being the gentleman that he is, he just glowered. Mary: Is the car washed now? John: For all intents and purposes, yes, but I didn't dry it yet.

See also: and, intent

for all practical purposes

as might be reasonably expected; essentially. For all practical purposes, this is simply a matter of right and wrong. This should be considered final, for all practical purposes.

for one's (own) sake

for one's good or benefit; in honor of someone. I have to earn a living for my family's sake. I did it for my mother's sake.

See also: sake

on purpose

intentionally; in a way that is meant or intended; not an accident. The bully stepped on my foot on purpose. Jealously, Jimmy destroyed Billy's sand castle on purpose.

Serve a (useful) purpose

to be useful in accomplishing some purpose. This large book should serve a useful purpose. We can use it for a doorstop.

See also: serve

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accidentally on purpose  (humorous)

if you do something accidentally on purpose, you intend to do it but you pretend that it was an accident If I, accidentally on purpose, forget to bring her address with us, we won't be able to visit her after all.

at cross-purposes

if two people are at cross-purposes, they do not understand each other because they are trying to do or say different things but they do not know this I think we're talking at cross-purposes here. You mean the old building, but I was talking about the new one.

to all intents and purposes

in all the most important ways We've got a few odd things to finish, but to all intents and purposes the job is done. They redesigned the old model and created something which was to all intents and purposes a brand new car.

See also: and, intent

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at cross purposes

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

See also: cross

at cross purposes

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

for all intents and purposes also to all intents and purposes

almost completely pretty much Escape from that prison was, for all intents and purposes, impossible. A licensed physician's assistant is to all intents and purposes a doctor.

See also: and, intent

on purpose

intentionally The idiot who set the fire on purpose is in jail, but that doesn't help the families who lost their homes.