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Definition of cross purposes noun from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

cross purposes

noun
 
/ˌkrɒs ˈpɜːpəsɪz/
 
/ˌkrɔːs ˈpɜːrpəsɪz/
[plural]
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  1. if two people are at cross purposes, they do not understand each other because they are talking about or aiming at different things, without realizing it
    • I think we're talking at cross purposes; that's not what I meant at all.
See cross purposes in the Oxford Advanced American Dictionary
trait
noun
 
 
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