criss-cross applesauce
(of sitting): Cross-legged.
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
“Sit criss-cross applesauce on the floor for story time.”
“You should sit criss-cross applesauce while we play this board game.”
“The teacher asked the children to sit criss-cross applesauce so everyone could see the book.”
“During the morning yoga session, the instructor told us to sit criss-cross applesauce and focus on our breathing before starting the first stretch.”
“The students settled onto the rug, sitting criss-cross applesauce as they listened to the guest speaker.”
disputed origin
Etymology Rhyming on criss-cross, particularly with a word familiar to children and teachers, possibly with similarity to lap forming a bowl. Apparently originated in the 1990s US, as an alternative for Indian style. Compare also traditional children’s rhyming game / massage (rhyme said while touching, tickling, and blowing), which goes: : Criss, cross. Apple sauce. : Spiders climbing up your back. : Spiders here, Spiders there. : Spiders even in your hair. : Cool breeze, : Tight squeeze, : And now you have the shivers. : Brrrrrrr.
Last updated August 10, 2026