cross up
phrasal verb
crossed up; crossing up; crosses up
US
1
: to make (someone) confused
The team crossed up their opponent by throwing the ball instead of running it.
2
: to ruin (something) completely
His failure to meet the deadline crossed up the deal.
Examples of cross up in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
It's been six days since Houston Astros pitcher Framber Valdez crossed up his rookie catcher, Cesar Salazar, and the fallout is still revealing itself.
—
Jon Paul Hoornstra, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Sep. 2025
Jarren Duran and Rafaela have been two of baseball’s best defensive outfielders this season, but Saturday marked the second time in a little over a week the two have gotten crossed up.
—Mac Cerullo, Boston Herald, 7 Sep. 2025
Tie ribbons secured the slippers on the feet and could be crossed up the legs.
—Literary Hub, 4 Aug. 2025
Pat Maroon couldn’t catch a break when his pass hit Jesper Bratt’s skate at the offensive blue line and then again when he got crossed up by Bratt and Ondřej Palát on Palát’s short-handed goal.
—Phil Thompson, Chicago Tribune, 27 Mar. 2025
There was one particular possession against the Knicks, where LaMelo Ball and Bridges got crossed up when switching defensively.
—Roderick Boone, Charlotte Observer, 21 Mar. 2025
Two days later, Cunningham crossed up Austin Reaves and finished over LeBron James during the fourth quarter of Detroit’s win over the Los Angeles Lakers.
—Hunter Patterson, The Athletic, 5 Jan. 2025
The imagery was not subtle; billboards around town flashed Trump as Jesus, and a man dragged a cross up and down the side of the highway.
—Antonia Hitchens, The New Yorker, 3 Nov. 2024
Related Articles Winn was forced to face one extra batter in the first inning when Matos, playing center field, got crossed up with left fielder Heliot Ramos on a fly ball from Freeman that should have been the third out of the inning.
—Evan Webeck, The Mercury News, 14 May 2024
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Jon Paul Hoornstra, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Sep. 2025
Jarren Duran and Rafaela have been two of baseball’s best defensive outfielders this season, but Saturday marked the second time in a little over a week the two have gotten crossed up.
—Mac Cerullo, Boston Herald, 7 Sep. 2025
Tie ribbons secured the slippers on the feet and could be crossed up the legs.
—Literary Hub, 4 Aug. 2025
Pat Maroon couldn’t catch a break when his pass hit Jesper Bratt’s skate at the offensive blue line and then again when he got crossed up by Bratt and Ondřej Palát on Palát’s short-handed goal.
—Phil Thompson, Chicago Tribune, 27 Mar. 2025
There was one particular possession against the Knicks, where LaMelo Ball and Bridges got crossed up when switching defensively.
—Roderick Boone, Charlotte Observer, 21 Mar. 2025
Two days later, Cunningham crossed up Austin Reaves and finished over LeBron James during the fourth quarter of Detroit’s win over the Los Angeles Lakers.
—Hunter Patterson, The Athletic, 5 Jan. 2025
The imagery was not subtle; billboards around town flashed Trump as Jesus, and a man dragged a cross up and down the side of the highway.
—Antonia Hitchens, The New Yorker, 3 Nov. 2024
Related Articles Winn was forced to face one extra batter in the first inning when Matos, playing center field, got crossed up with left fielder Heliot Ramos on a fly ball from Freeman that should have been the third out of the inning.
—Evan Webeck, The Mercury News, 14 May 2024
Cite this Entry
“Cross up.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cross%20up. Accessed 13 Sep. 2025.
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