English for Students

English : Have my wires crossed

What does the expression Have my wires crossed mean?

When someone says that you have your wires crossed, what it means is that you are very confused about something.

Here's an example.

• When the police started questioning the old man he got his wires crossed about who came running out of the club. First he said that it was Prahalad who ran out, but later he said that it was Paul.

• During the interview the poor candidate really had his wires crossed. He had no clue what he was saying.

• Poor Sanjay, half the time he doesn't know what he is talking about. He really has his wires crossed.

OK. What is the connection between the expression and getting confused?

It's as if your brain has been wrongly wired.

That means that our brain has been wrongly wired. In other words, we are looking at the brain as an electrical circuit of some kind. A circuit which hasn't been properly wired is what is meant by wiring.




COURTESY : The Hindu (The National News-Paper) - India

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