Get Your Wires Crossed

If you regularly get new ideas and find yourself with an excess of them, you may need to prioritise some and keep others “on the back burner” for possible later use. This might also be the case if you feel that the current climate is not optimal for pursuing one of your ideas. In this case, you can put the idea “on ice” and come back to it at a more advantageous moment.

When choosing products or services, most of us are likelier to choose sellers with a recognisable “stamp of quality”, whether it be membership in an association, receipt of an award or a proven track record in the field. Such products or services are usually superior to many others and can be described as “top drawer”. They may even be accepted or given the “seal of approval” by prominent figures.

Sometimes, misunderstandings occur despite the best efforts of those involved in a discussion, and people “get their wires crossed.” This practical expression refers to wrongly connected telephone lines, leading to disrupted calls. It can be used in both every day and more serious contexts.

“Getting one’s wires crossed” may become more likely when those involved in a conversation choose to “bypass a question” or avoid answering it. While this strategy can be fruitful for some, and diplomacy can be helpful in certain situations, it can also make conversations more challenging.

One example of a situation where someone might “bypass a question” is when they feel that they have already expressed their opinion. This can also be the case in negotiation situations, where one party clarifies that they have specific non-negotiable points they are unwilling “to budge on.”

If you enter a new environment where much remains unfamiliar, having people around you who can “fill you in” on essential details and “bring you up to speed” will be indispensable. If skilled, they may be able to summarise the most pertinent information quickly or “in a nutshell.”