get-your-wires-crossed
/ɡet jɔːr ˈwaɪəz krɒst/ IELTSAcademic
idiom
If people get your wires crossed, they misunderstand each other. One person thinks one thing, and another person thinks something different.
- Sorry, we got our wires crossed.
- I think our wires got crossed about the meeting time.
- We must have got our wires crossed somewhere.
Adinary Nuance
Get your wires crossed is more casual and conversational than misunderstanding or miscommunicate. It often suggests a simple mix-up, not a serious problem. Use it when the mistake came from unclear communication on both sides. It is common in spoken English and friendly writing.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- hiểu lầm
- Spanish
- malentender
- Chinese
- 误会
- Japanese
- 行き違い
- Korean
- 오해
Etymology
This idiom comes from the image of telephone or electrical wires being crossed, which stops clear communication. It became common in the 20th century.
Common phrases
get our wires crossedhave your wires crossedour wires got crossed
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- Is get your wires crossed formal or informal?
- It is informal and conversational. It sounds natural in speech and casual writing.
- What is the difference between get your wires crossed and misunderstand?
- Get your wires crossed usually means a small communication mix-up. Misunderstand is broader and can sound more neutral or formal.
- Can I use this in business English?
- Yes, but mostly in spoken business English or friendly emails. In formal reports, use misunderstanding instead.