cross up
phr. v..phr. v.. to confuse someone or make them fail by doing something they do not expect.
phr. v.. to confuse, mislead, or thwart someone, often by providing contradictory information or making an unexpected move.
The sudden change in plans really crossed me up.
The pitcher tried to cross up the batter by throwing a slow ball when he expected a fast one.
The witness's conflicting statements were clearly intended to cross up the prosecution during the cross-examination.
often used in sports or competitive situations; frequently used in the passive voice or with a direct object.
this is a relatively rare phrasal verb compared to 'confuse' or 'mix up'; it often implies a deliberate attempt to trick someone.
He crossed up to me.He crossed me up.this phrasal verb is transitive and does not take the preposition 'to' before the object.