meaning of "cross-purposes"

[Haihao]

Hi,

Could you please help me with:

[Alan]

Hi Haihao,

'At cross purposes' suggests in contradiction with someone. If two people have a discussion and appear to have different goals in mind or simply that they have misunderstood what each other's goals are said to be in this situation. There's a good adjective to describe someone who actually 'enjoys' doing this as in your quotation and that's obstreperous.

Alan
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[Haihao]

Good morning Alan from Japan in the evening!

Thank you very much and now I understand the person described as 'enjoyed working at cross-purposes' is of such a kind as was fond of being opposite to other people.

Haihao