Double-cross

To betray, deceive, or act treacherously towards someone, especially for personal gain or advantage. It involves a deliberate violation of trust or an agreement, often resulting in significant harm to the victim. This act is often premeditated and involves guile and cunning. The goal is usually to manipulate the other party and profit from their naiveté or vulnerability. A successful double-cross typically leaves the victim feeling used, angry, and disillusioned. It underscores the absence of loyalty and ethics in the perpetrator's actions. The nature of the double-cross can range from minor deceit to elaborate schemes with severe consequences, depending on the circumstances and the intentions of the individual who undertakes the double-cross.

Double-cross meaning with examples

• The spy, after initially agreeing to share vital intelligence, proceeded to double-cross his allies by selling the information to their enemies. The deception led to the downfall of their entire operation and left their nation vulnerable. The allies felt a deep sense of betrayal after trusting this individual and the ramifications of the double-cross were devastating, resulting in many casualties and strategic losses.
• In the cutthroat world of corporate mergers, the CEO, after verbally agreeing to a partnership, decided to double-cross his potential investors by secretly securing a more lucrative deal with a competitor. The disappointed investors had poured considerable resources into the deal, which became worthless at the last minute. Their pursuit of profit and success ended in the most significant of failures.
• The con artist planned to double-cross his accomplices after the heist, keeping all of the loot for himself. He arranged a fake police raid, staging their arrests, ensuring that the money, their shared bounty, would become his property. This ruthless plan betrayed the trust and cooperation that they'd developed as a team, as well as creating a lot of hurt for all involved parties.
• After forming a strategic alliance, the ambitious politician maneuvered to double-cross their coalition partners, using their shared power to enact policies that solely benefited their party. They were prepared to sacrifice the relationship to achieve a complete political monopoly. The act destroyed the alliance and alienated many within their own ranks, although they secured their own position.
• During the negotiation, the seller appeared to have been open and transparent, but ultimately sought to double-cross the buyer by falsely inflating the value of the property and selling it for a vast profit. This exploitation, based on a web of lies, left the buyer with massive financial losses, and legal repercussions.