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
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 play in question looked more like Ridley getting crossed up a bit on the route and pausing enough to forfeit an opportunity to track the ball.
—Joe Rexrode, The Athletic, 16 Aug. 2024
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
January 1, 2024 In a cost-to-coast effort, Claxton crossed up a tough wing defender in Lou Dort, administered the same fate to rookie Cason Wallace, then finished with a soft floater over another rookie in Chet Holmgren, who is already viewed as one of the better shot-blockers in the NBA.
—C.j. Holmes, New York Daily News, 2 Jan. 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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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 play in question looked more like Ridley getting crossed up a bit on the route and pausing enough to forfeit an opportunity to track the ball.
—Joe Rexrode, The Athletic, 16 Aug. 2024
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
January 1, 2024 In a cost-to-coast effort, Claxton crossed up a tough wing defender in Lou Dort, administered the same fate to rookie Cason Wallace, then finished with a soft floater over another rookie in Chet Holmgren, who is already viewed as one of the better shot-blockers in the NBA.
—C.j. Holmes, New York Daily News, 2 Jan. 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 21 Jul. 2025.
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