Cross-purpose for Dummies
noun
pronunciation: krɔs_'pɜrpəsWhat does Cross-purpose really mean?
Cross-purpose is a phrase that we often use to describe a situation where two or more people or groups have different goals or intentions that conflict with each other. You can think of it as if everyone involved in the situation is going in opposite directions or trying to achieve different things. It's like when you and your friend are walking towards each other, but one of you wants to go to the park while the other wants to go to the library - you have cross-purposes or conflicting goals.
Let's use an example to understand it better. Imagine there's a family meeting where your parents want to go on a relaxing beach vacation, but you and your siblings want to go on an adventurous hiking trip in the mountains. The family members have different interests and desires, and they are not aligned with each other. So even though they're all trying to plan a family getaway, they have cross-purposes because their goals clash.
It's important to remember that cross-purpose doesn't necessarily mean that people are disagreeing or arguing with each other. Sometimes it's just a difference in opinions or desires, without any conflict or tension. In fact, in situations like the family meeting, people can discuss their ideas and find a compromise or a solution that satisfies everyone involved, even though their initial goals were different.
Now, there's another meaning of cross-purpose that we should discuss briefly. In some cases, it can also refer to a situation where someone's actions or words unintentionally undermine or work against their own goals. It's like when someone tries to help a friend but ends up making things worse instead. For instance, if you try to cheer up a friend who is upset about failing a test, and you accidentally say something that makes them feel even more discouraged. You had good intentions, but your words had a cross-purpose effect because they made your friend feel worse instead of better.
So, to sum it all up, cross-purpose means when different people or groups have conflicting goals, desires, or when someone's actions unintentionally undermine their own goals. It's like going in opposite directions or accidentally making things worse instead of better. Understanding the concept of cross-purpose can help us navigate situations where different perspectives and goals might clash, and find ways to work together towards a common solution.
Revised and Fact checked by James Brown on 2023-10-28 08:26:10
Cross-purpose In a sentece
Learn how to use Cross-purpose inside a sentece
- The brother and sister argued about what movie to watch because they had cross-purposes. She wanted to watch a comedy, but he wanted to watch a horror film.
- When the soccer team played against each other during practice, the players had cross-purposes because one group wanted to focus on defense while the other group wanted to practice scoring goals.
- During a group project, Sara and John had cross-purposes because Sara wanted to present their findings using graphs, while John preferred using written explanations.
- In a meeting, the manager and the employee had cross-purposes. The manager wanted to prioritize finishing the project quickly, while the employee wanted to ensure high-quality work.
- Two friends were planning a picnic, but had cross-purposes in choosing a location. One friend preferred a beach, while the other friend wanted to go hiking in the mountains.
Cross-purpose Hypernyms
Words that are more generic than the original word.