1 C1 idiomatic informal
To confuse or bewilder someone by acting unexpectedly or inconsistently.
"His sudden change of plans completely crossed up the rest of the team."
separable
cross up
C1 informal separable transitive
To confuse, deceive, or betray someone; to act in a way contrary to what was expected or agreed.
In plain English
To trick or confuse someone, or to do the opposite of what you promised.
What does "cross up" mean?
2 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 C1 idiomatic informal
To deceive or betray someone who trusted you; to go back on an agreement.
"He crossed up his business partner by selling the shares without telling him."
separable
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
The idea of drawing an X ('cross') over something, cancelling or blocking it.
Actually means
To trick or confuse someone, or to do the opposite of what you promised.
Usage tip
Primarily North American informal usage. Somewhat dated and not widely used in contemporary speech. Often implies an element of betrayal or deliberate deception.
Words that pair with "cross up"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
plans partner deal expectations ally
How to conjugate "cross up"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
cross up
I/you/we/they
3rd person
crosses up
he/she/it
Past simple
crossed up
yesterday
Past participle
crossed up
have + pp
-ing form
crossing up
continuous
Hear "cross up" in the wild
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