double-cross

See also: doublecross

English

Etymology

First recorded in 1834 from thieves' slang cross (or on the cross) to refer to something dishonest, a play on straight/square, and therefore a crook going back on his partners would be crossing the crossers, or double-crossing.

Verb

1. To betray or go back on

Translations

to betray or go back on

• German: hintergehen (de), aufs Kreuz legen, ein Doppelspiel treiben mit
• (deprecated template usage) {{trans-mid}}

References

• Michael Quinion (2004) “Double-cross”, in Ballyhoo, Buckaroo, and Spuds: Ingenious Tales of Words and Their Origins, Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Books in association with Penguin Books, →ISBN.