PhrasesHub

Noughts and crosses

    Definitions

      • discourage someone
        Advise against engaging in a particular activity or task, cautioning that it will not result in any positive outcome or benefit

      • decision-making
        Refers to the process of making choices or deciding between alternatives

    Examples of Noughts and crosses

    • There's no point in trying to negotiate with them. It's like playing noughts and crosses with a genius who always wins.

      This idiom is used to express the feeling of futility or hopelessness in a situation. Just like in the game of noughts and crosses (also known as tic-tac-toe), if one player is much more skilled than the other, the outcome of the game is already predetermined, and there's little chance for the less skilled player to win. This idiom can be used figuratively to describe any situation where the outcome seems to be predetermined, such as dealing with a superior opponent in a negotiation or trying to outsmart an experienced athlete.

    • I've read the contract a hundred times, but it's like a noughts and crosses game with no end in sight.

      Here, the idiom is used to describe a frustrating situation where there seems to be no clear outcome or resolution. Just as in the case of a seemingly endless game of noughts and crosses, the signer feels like they're spinning their wheels without making any progress. This idiom highlights the feeling of being stuck in a situation with no clear path forward.

    • Don't be so naive. You're playing noughts and crosses with a mastermind.

      This idiom is used to caution someone against being too optimistic or underestimating an opponent. Just as in the case of playing noughts and crosses against a brilliant opponent, being too simplistic or naive can lead to an inevitable and disastrous outcome. This idiom can be used to warn someone that they may be facing a more complex or challenging situation than they realize, and that they should be prepared for a more difficult outcome than they may anticipate.

    • I can't believe I fell for their scheme. It's like losing at noughts and crosses when you could have won.

      This idiom is used to express regret or disappointment in a situation where things could have turned out differently. Just as in the case of losing at noughts and crosses when one could have won, the speaker feels like they could have made a different decision or taken a different course of action to achieve a better outcome. This idiom highlights the feeling of missing out on an opportunity or making a mistake that had negative consequences.

    • "The negotiations between the two parties have been a series of noughts and crosses so far."

      This idiom is used to describe a situation where there have been no clear winners or losers, just a series of small successes and failures. It comes from the game of noughts and crosses (also known as tic-tac-toe), where both players have an equal chance of winning. When the game is drawn and neither player has won, it is described as a series of noughts and crosses.

    • "After many rounds of negotiating, the two sides are still playing noughts and crosses."

      This idiom is used to emphasize that there is still no clear outcome in the negotiations, just a back-and-forth negotiation process.

    • "The politicians' speeches this week were a classic example of noughts and crosses."

      This idiom is used to describe a situation where both sides are making small gains without any clear winner emerging. In this context, it might be used to suggest that both politicians are making a series of small criticisms of each other's policies without any clear victories or concessions.

    • "The results of the study are a draw, with a series of noughts and crosses on the scoresheet."

      This idiom is used to describe a situation where there is no clear winner or loser, just a series of small successes and failures. In this context, it might be used to suggest that both sides have achieved some positive results, but neither side has achieved a clear victory. The scoresheet might show a series of small gains and losses, akin to a series of noughts and crosses in a game of tic-tac-toe.


    Conclusion

    The idiom "noughts and crosses" can be used to discourage someone from engaging in a particular activity or task by cautioning that it will not result in any positive outcome or benefit. It can also refer to the process of decision-making, specifically making choices or deciding between alternatives.

    Origin of "Noughts and crosses"

    The origin of the idiom "noughts and crosses" can be traced back to the game of tic-tac-toe, also known as noughts and crosses. The game involves two players taking turns to mark spaces in a 3x3 grid with either an "X" or an "O," with the objective of getting three of their marks in a row. The idiom likely draws from the strategic nature of the game, as players must make decisions and choices to outmaneuver their opponent and win the game. Over time, the idiom has evolved to encompass decision-making and discouraging certain actions or behaviors. Its roots in the game of tic-tac-toe highlight the idea of making calculated moves and choices, which is reflected in its usage as an idiom.