cross the T—(Navy) cross ahead of enemy ship’s line of advance approximately at right angles, thus securing tactical advantages:
- This maneuver, known as “crossing the T,” has been the dream of all admirals.
cross the t’s—
1. (also: stroke the t’s) draw the horizontal line across the upright of the letter “t”:
- There was something familiar about the handwriting. The way the writer crossed the t’s too high.
2. (in the phrase “dot the i’s and cross the t’s”) be very thorough; meticulously stick to accepted routine:
- They had been careful to engage the accounting firm and had really crossed the t’s and dotted the i’s.
Cf.: dot the last i and cross the last t— carefully finish a project:
- Most of you are not quite ready to dot the last “i” and cross the last “t” of your thesis.