double-cross

A businessman double-crosses his partner by making a secret deal.

Definition

1. Verb:

   • To betray someone by pretending to be on their side: "double-cross" means to deceive or cheat someone who trusts you, especially by working secretly with their enemy or opponent. This is a deliberate act of treachery.
   • To swindle or cheat in a scheme: It can also mean to cheat someone in a dishonest plan or agreement, often for personal gain.

2. Noun:

   • An act of betrayal: "double-cross" refers to the act of being deceitful and treacherous, particularly in a situation where trust has been established.
   • A scheme involving betrayal: It can denote a plan or plot that involves tricking or cheating someone who is supposedly an ally.

Usage Examples

• Verb:

  • He double-crossed his business partner by selling company secrets to a rival firm. (He betrayed his partner by secretly helping the competition.)
  • The spy double-crossed both sides, feeding false information to each. (The spy deceived both groups by pretending loyalty to each.)

• Noun:

  • The gang leader ordered a double-cross against his lieutenant. (The leader planned a betrayal of his trusted subordinate.)
  • The entire operation was a double-cross, designed to fool the investors. (The whole scheme was a trick to cheat the investors.)

Advanced Usage

• "To pull a double-cross": to execute a betrayal or deceptive act.

  • They pulled a double-cross on their rivals by pretending to negotiate a truce. (They deceived their rivals by feigning peace talks.)

• "Double-crossing" (as an adjective): describing someone who betrays trust.

  • He was known as a double-crossing informant. (He had a reputation for being a deceitful betrayer.)

Variants and Related Words

• Double-crosser (noun): a person who betrays or deceives others.

  • She was a notorious double-crosser in the underworld. (She was infamous for betraying her associates.)

• Cross (verb): to betray or deceive (archaic or less common usage).

  • He crossed his allies for money. (He betrayed his allies for financial gain.)

Synonyms

• Betray: to be disloyal to someone who trusts you.
• Deceive: to cause someone to believe something false.
• Swindle: to cheat someone out of money or property.
• Treachery: the act of betrayal (noun form).

Phrasal Verbs

• Double-cross out of: to obtain something by betrayal.
  • They double-crossed him out of his inheritance. (They cheated him to steal his inheritance through betrayal.)

Related Idioms

• Stab someone in the back: to betray someone who trusts you.

  • He stabbed his friend in the back by revealing his secret. (He betrayed his friend’s trust.)

• Play both ends against the middle: to manipulate two opposing sides for personal advantage (often implies double-crossing).

  • She played both ends against the middle, promising loyalty to each group. (She deceived both sides to benefit herself.)