Definition

1. Noun:

   • An act of betraying someone who trusts you, especially after pretending to be loyal or after making a secret agreement. It specifically refers to a treacherous deception where one party goes back on a secret deal or promise made with another.

2. Verb:

   • To betray someone by pretending to cooperate with them while secretly working against them or breaking a secret agreement. The action involves deliberate deception and a breach of trust, often for personal gain.

Usage Examples

• Noun:

  • The informant feared a double cross from his criminal contacts.
  • The business deal fell apart because of a shocking double cross by our supposed partner.

• Verb:

  • He agreed to help the police but then double-crossed them by warning the gang.
  • The spy was double-crossed by his own agency and left without support.

Advanced Usage

• The term often implies a prior, often secret, agreement or understanding between the parties, which makes the betrayal more severe.
• It is commonly used in contexts of crime, espionage, competitive business, or any situation involving secret pacts and deep distrust.

Variants and Related Words

• Double-crosser (noun): A person who commits a double cross.
  • He was exposed as a double-crosser.
• Double-crossing (noun/gerund): The act or practice of betraying in this way.
  • His history of double-crossing made him untrustworthy.

Synonyms

• Noun: Betrayal, treachery, perfidy, stab in the back.
• Verb: Betray, deceive, sell out, two-time.

Related Phrases

• To pull a double cross (on someone): To perform an act of betrayal.
  • They pulled a double cross on their allies during the negotiation.

Noun

1. an act of betrayal
   • he gave us the old double cross
   • I could no longer tolerate his impudent double-crossing

Verb

1. betray by double-dealing