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Get One's Wires Crossed

What Does "Get One's Wires Crossed" Mean?

homeidiomsGet One's Wires Crossed
"Get one's wires crossed" is an English idiom. It means "to have a misunderstanding or miscommunication, often resulting from a mix-up or confusion."

Examples in Sentences

Here are three examples of the idiom "get one's wires crossed" used in a sentence:
  • They realized they had gotten their wires crossed when they both showed up at different locations for the meeting.
  • He apologized for the mistake and explained that they had their wires crossed regarding the schedule.
  • She clarified the instructions to ensure there were no more wires crossed in the future.
meaning for get one's wires crossed

What Is an Idiom?

An idiom is a commonly used expression whose meaning does not relate to the literal meaning of its words. In other words, if you were to translate "Get One's Wires Crossed" word for word, there is no guarantee the translation would help you to understand the meaning.

An idiom often includes a cultural or historical context that makes it difficult for non-native English speakers to understand. A phrase is classified as an idiom when a direct translation of the words does not reveal the meaning. Most idioms rely on shared knowledge or experiences known only to a specific community.

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