cross-purposes
Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English 5++LDOCE 5++ˌcross-ˈpurposes noun at cross-purposes UNDERSTANDif two people are at cross-purposes, they do not understand each other because they are talking about different things but fail to realize this 〔两人说话时〕互相不理解，各说各地 I think we’re talking at cross-purposes. 我想我们说的是两码事。
Examples from the Corpus
cross-purposes• At the moment we are sick of politics with one faction at cross-purposes with another.• The present system of managed floating does contain the possibility of direct conflict if official intervention is carried out at cross-purposes.• I wouldn't want us to find ourselves talking at cross-purposes.ˌcross-ˈpurposes nounChineseSyllable
if at cross-purposes, they Corpus are do two people
cross-purposes
ˌcross-ˈpurposes
noun
at cross-purposes if two people are at cross-purposes, they do not understand each other because they are talking about different things but fail to realize this:
I think we’re talking at cross-purposes.
ˌcross-ˈpurposes
nounat cross-purposes if two people are at cross-purposes, they do not understand each other because they are talking about different things but fail to realize this: