Get your wires crossed
Meaning
To misunderstand or confuse communication with someone, often leading to a mistake or unexpected outcome.
Origin
The phrase "get your wires crossed" emerged with the rise of widespread electrical and telecommunication systems in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Imagine the burgeoning network of telegraph and telephone lines, a dizzying tangle of copper connecting cities and continents. If these physical wires became literally crossed, either through faulty installation, damage, or interference, the electrical signals would likewise get mixed up, leading to garbled messages or a complete breakdown in communication. This tangible experience of scrambled signals provided a perfect, vivid metaphor for human misunderstanding, capturing the frustration of expecting one message but receiving another, or of two parties completely misinterpreting each other's intentions.
Examples
- I think we got our wires crossed about the meeting time; I thought it was at 10 AM, but you said 11 AM.
- There must have been some miscommunication because we definitely got our wires crossed on who was bringing the dessert.