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Phrasal verbs "cross up" vs "sew up"

Differences between cross up and sew up

Cross up means to confuse or deceive someone, while sew up means to complete or finalize something successfully.

Meanings and Definitions: cross up vs sew up

Learn how to use these expressions through these examples

Cross up

  • 1Confuse, deceive.

    The treasure map was deliberately drawn to CROSS us UP.

Sew up

  • 1To complete or finalize something.

    As part of their winding-up operation they're sending two detectives to sew up this end of things.

  • 2To close or repair something using stitches.

    Mahoney said: "The German riggers aboard the old Zeppelins had to go up top regularly in flight to sew up tears in the canvas."

  • 3To secure or guarantee something, especially a victory or success.

    They seem to have the contest all sewn up.

Usage Examples: cross up, sew up in Sentences

Learn how to use these expressions through these examples

cross up

Example

The magician tried to cross up the audience with his tricks.

Example

She crosses up her opponents with her clever strategies.

sew up

Example

We need to sew up the details of the contract before the meeting.

Example

She sews up the loose ends of her projects before the deadline.

Similar Expressions(Synonyms) of Cross up

throw off

To confuse or mislead someone by providing false information or leading them in the wrong direction.

Example

He tried to throw off the detectives by giving them a fake alibi.

pull a fast one

To deceive or trick someone in a clever or unexpected way.

Example

She thought she had won the game, but he pulled a fast one and took the victory.

put one over on

To deceive or trick someone into believing something false or misleading.

Example

He thought he had put one over on his boss by taking a sick day, but she saw him at the mall later that day.

Similar Expressions(Synonyms) of Sew up

wrap up

To complete or finish something successfully.

Example

We need to wrap up this project by the end of the week to meet the deadline.

nail down

To finalize or secure something successfully.

Example

We finally nailed down the details of the contract after several rounds of negotiations.

close the deal

To successfully finalize a business agreement or transaction.

Example

After weeks of negotiations, they were finally able to close the deal and sign the contract.

Explore more Phrasal Verbs

Here are some phrasal verbs with the same verbs or particles

Phrasal Verbs with “cross”

Phrasal Verbs with “up”

Differences in cross up vs sew up: Usage, Formality, and Tone

Frequency in Daily Use: cross up or sew up?

In everyday conversation, sew up is more commonly used than cross up. This is because sew up is used in a variety of contexts such as completing a task, winning a game, or finalizing a deal. Cross up is not used as much and is mainly used in specific situations where someone is trying to deceive or confuse another person.

Informal vs Formal: Contextual Use of cross up and sew up

Cross up and sew up are both informal phrases that are suitable for casual conversations. However, sew up can also be used in more formal settings like business or academic contexts to convey the successful completion of a task or project.

Tone and Implication: The Nuances of cross up and sew up

The tone of cross up and sew up can differ based on context. Cross up often carries a negative or deceitful tone, while sew up typically has a positive and successful tone.

cross up & sew up: Synonyms and Antonyms

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