double-crossing
|dou/ble/cross/ing|
🇺🇸
/ˈdʌbəlˌkrɔs/
🇬🇧
/ˈdʌb(ə)lˌkrɒs/
(double-cross)
betrayal by deceit
Etymology
'double-cross' originates from American English, combining 'double' (meaning 'twofold') and 'cross' (used as a verb meaning 'to thwart or betray'), forming a compound meaning to deceive or betray.
'double-cross' emerged in early 20th-century English (criminal and gambling slang) as a verb meaning 'to trick or cheat,' later producing forms like 'double-crossed' and 'double-crossing' in ordinary usage.
Initially it referred to 'tricking or cheating (often in a scheme or game),' and over time it narrowed and stabilized into the modern sense of 'betraying someone who trusted you.'
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
an act of betraying someone who trusted you; a deceitful betrayal.
His double-crossing ruined the deal.
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Verb 1
to betray or cheat someone who trusts you (present participle form used in continuous or adjectival contexts).
They accused him of double-crossing his partners.
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Adjective 1
describing someone or something characterized by betrayal or treachery.
Her double-crossing behavior was obvious to everyone.
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Last updated: 2025/12/04 04:22