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purpose
for all intensive purposes
An erroneous misconstruction of the phrase "for all intents and purposes," meaning "in every practical or functional sense." I know the two countries have very distinct differences, but for all intensive purposes, America and Canada are nearly identical.
serve (someone's) purpose
To fit or satisfy someone's requirements; to be useful for or fit to achieve someone's aim, goal, or purpose. Well, it isn't a very pretty car, but it should serve our purpose just fine. Child: "But mom, I want a smartphone!" Mother: "Nonsense, the cell phone you already have serves your purpose just fine."
serve the purpose
To fit or satisfy the necessary requirements; to be useful for or fit to achieve some aim, goal, or purpose. Well, it isn't a very pretty car, but it should serve the purposes of our mission. Child: "But mom, I want a smartphone!" Mother: "Nonsense, the cell phone you have serves the purpose just fine."
cross purpose
A goal or purpose that conflicts with someone else's. Often used in the phrase "at cross purposes." It sounds like you two are at cross purposes right now, so take a few minutes and reach an agreement about what you hope to achieve.
to the purpose
To the point; that which is pertinent. We don't have much time left, so please, get to the purpose.
answer (one's) purpose
To be useful for a particular task. If that's the only paintbrush we have, I think it will answer my purpose.
at cross purposes
In conflict with or in opposition to. You will never find success if you continue to work at cross purposes with your teammates.
accidentally on purpose
Seemingly unintentionally but actually deliberately. Paula is pretty shy, so I think she forgot to attend the party accidentally on purpose.
accidentally-on-purpose
Inf. deliberate, but meant to look like an accident. Then, I accidentally-on-purpose spilled water on him.
answer someone's purpose
and serve someone's purposeto fit or suit someone's aim or goal. This piece of wood will answer my purpose quite nicely. The new car serves our purpose perfectly.
at cross-purposes
with opposing viewpoints; with goals that interfere with each other. We are arguing at cross-purposes. We aren't even discussing the same thing. Bill and Tom are working at cross-purposes. They'll never get the job done right.
devil can quote Scripture for his own purpose
and devil can cite Scripture for his own purposeProv. Evil people sometimes try to win the confidence of good people by quoting persuasive passages of Scripture.; Just because someone can quote Scripture to support his or her argument does not mean that the argument is virtuous. (Scripture usually refers to the Bible, but it can refer to other religious writings.) Sadie: Dad, you really ought to give me permission to go out with Nathan. He's such a polite boy, and he can even quote the Bible. Father: The devil can quote Scripture for his own purpose.
for all intents and purposes
Cliché seeming as if; looking as if. Tom stood there, looking, for all intents and purposes, as if he could strangle Sally, but, being the gentleman that he is, he just glowered. Mary: Is the car washed now? John: For all intents and purposes, yes, but I didn't dry it yet.
for all practical purposes
as might be reasonably expected; essentially. For all practical purposes, this is simply a matter of right and wrong. This should be considered final, for all practical purposes.
for one's (own) sake
for one's good or benefit; in honor of someone. I have to earn a living for my family's sake. I did it for my mother's sake.
for someone (or something's) sake
and for the sake of someone or somethingfor the purpose or benefit of someone or something; to satisfy the demands of someone or something. I made a meatless dinner for John's sake; he's a vegetarian. The teacher repeated the assignment for the sake of the slower students.
on purpose
intentionally; in a way that is meant or intended; not an accident. The bully stepped on my foot on purpose. Jealously, Jimmy destroyed Billy's sand castle on purpose.
Serve a (useful) purpose
to be useful in accomplishing some purpose. This large book should serve a useful purpose. We can use it for a doorstop.
at cross purposes
with different intentions The two groups of advisors seemed to be working at cross purposes during this crisis.
for all intents and purposes
also to all intents and purposes almost completely pretty much Escape from that prison was, for all intents and purposes, impossible. A licensed physician's assistant is to all intents and purposes a doctor.
on purpose
intentionally The idiot who set the fire on purpose is in jail, but that doesn't help the families who lost their homes.
at cross purposes
in ways that are opposed to each other The relief effort was characterized by a tendency to work at cross purposes instead of everyone working together.
accidentally on purpose
(humorous) if you do something accidentally on purpose, you intend to do it but you pretend that it was an accident If I, accidentally on purpose, forget to bring her address with us, we won't be able to visit her after all.
at cross-purposes
if two people are at cross-purposes, they do not understand each other because they are trying to do or say different things but they do not know this I think we're talking at cross-purposes here. You mean the old building, but I was talking about the new one.
to all intents and purposes
in all the most important ways We've got a few odd things to finish, but to all intents and purposes the job is done. They redesigned the old model and created something which was to all intents and purposes a brand new car.
at cross purposes
With aims or goals that conflict or interfere with one another, as in I'm afraid the two departments are working at cross purposes. This idiom, first recorded in 1688, may have begun as a 17th-century parlor game called "cross-purposes," in which a series of subjects (or questions) were divided from their explanations (or answers) and distributed around the room. Players then created absurdities by combining a subject taken from one person with an explanation taken from another.
on purpose
1. Deliberately, intentionally, as in He left the photo out of the story on purpose. Shakespeare's use of this idiom was among the earliest; it appears in The Comedy of Errors (4:3): "On purpose shut the doors against his way."
2. accidentally on purpose. Seemingly accidentally but actually deliberately, as in She stepped on his foot accidentally on purpose. This generally jocular phrase was first recorded in 1862.
serve a purpose
Also, serve one's or the purpose . Be useful, meet the needs or requirements, satisfy, as in I don't know why they've added all this information but it probably serves a purpose, or It often serves his purpose to be vague, or We don't have a spading fork but this shovel should serve the purpose. This idiom was first recorded in 1513.
to all intents and purposes
Also,
for all intents and purposes;
for all practical purposes. In every practical sense, virtually. For example,
For all intents and purposes the case is closed, or
For all practical purposes the Vice-President is the chief executive while the President is in the hospital . The first phrase, dating from the 1500s, originated in English law, where it was
to all intents, constructions, and purposes. A shorter synonym is
in effect, def. 1.
to good purpose
To effective use, as in
A donation to the homeless shelter will be put to good purpose. This idiom was first recorded in 1553. Also see
to little or no purpose.
to little purpose
Also,
to no purpose. Of little or no use, in vain, as in
Hiring a new lawyer will be to little purpose. The related phrases are sometimes combined in
to little or no purpose and used as a general indicator of futility.
To little purpose was first recorded in 1560. For a synonym, see
to no avail; also see
to good purpose.
accidentally-on-purpose
mod. deliberate, but meant to look like an accident. Then I accidentally-on-purpose spilled water on him.
at cross-purposes
Pursuing conflicting or contrary goals, usually unintentionally: We're working at cross-purposes.
on purpose
Intentionally; deliberately.
to good purpose
With good results.