got one's wires crossed
Had a miscommunication
To get one's wires crossed is to have a miscommunication or misunderstanding, especially when two people have different information about the same arrangement: We got our wires crossed—I thought we were meeting at noon, but she expected me at two.
The image comes from telephone lines accidentally connected to the wrong circuit.
Also *get one's signals crossed*.
- short circuitAccidental low-resistance path
- misalignmentImproper positioning relative to reference
- misconceptionErroneous belief or understanding
- lost in translationMeaning altered between languages
- lost the plotBecame irrational or confused
misreading · wrong end of the stick · misinformation · signal interference · disagreement · brain fog · ambiguity · tangled up · confusion · error · absent-mindedness · glitch · mixed signals · discord · forgetfulness · inattentiveness · distraction · overthinking
got one's wires crossedcrystal clear
Entirely unambiguous, perfectly understood
spelled it out · on the same page · got the message · connected · got through to
got one's wires crossedon the same page
Sharing a common understanding
on the same wavelength · in sync · of one mind · in agreement · saw eye to eye
got one's wires crossedlied
Told a falsehood
pulled the wool over someone's eyes · led astray · duped · hoodwinked
getter, wires, wired, wireless, rewire, rewired, cross, crossed, crosses