Learn English – What does “crossed signals” mean in this context

meaningmeaning-in-context

While reading Experts Exchange(EE) Community Newsletter, I came across a new phrase. I'm trying to understand, what does crossed signals mean in this context?

Excerpt from the Newsletter:

This time we mean it: Call it crossed signals. xxxx, one of Experts
Exchange's site administrators, was supposed to host a meet-up at xxxx
in Denver last week, but a mix-up in communications forced its
postponement to Thursday, …. If you're so inclined, feel free to
come bend his ear about anything EE; you can RSVP here; the beer is on
us. …

… and finally, what does the sentence "the beer is on us" mean?

Complete Newsletter is available here.

Best Answer

crossed signals simply means there was a mistake. As the paragraph says there was a mix-up in communications. As @Fraser adds - "crossed signals" means specifically a mix-up in communications, it is that specific type of mistake that the expression refers too.

"the beer is on us" means "they are paying for the beer". Better rush to Denver on Thursday ;)

If you tell someone "This one's on me" then it means you are paying for that or rather treating someone else to that.

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