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cross up

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cross someone up

to give someone trouble; to defy or betray someone; to spoil someone's plans. (Also without up.) You really crossed up Bill when you told Tom what he said. Please don't cross me up again.

See also: cross, up

cross up

1. Betray, double-cross, cheat, as in Jack crossed up his buddies and told the police they had broken in. Originally this usage often was put simply as to cross. [Early 1800s]

2. Confuse, muddle, as in We all planned to meet at the restaurant but several of us got crossed up as to time and place .

See also: cross, up

cross up

v.

1. To confuse someone by acting in a way that is contrary to what is expected: The pitcher threw a wild pitch that crossed up the catcher and allowed the runner to steal a base. The quarterback crossed us up with a fake handoff.

2. To cause some bicycle or motor vehicle to turn about the vertical axis so that it is no longer oriented in the direction that it is moving, often resulting in an abrupt stop. Used chiefly in the passive: On the last jump, my motorcycle became crossed up in the air, and I landed sideways.

3. To turn about the vertical axis so that one is no longer oriented in the direction that one is moving, often resulting in an abrupt stop: The car crossed up in the last turn, and the other car rammed into the side of it.

See also: cross, up