burn that bridge when one comes to it: meaning & examples

Meanings:

• 1.

  United StatesUnited KingdomAustraliainformalhumorousnonstandard
  • A jocular or deliberately altered form of 'cross that bridge when one comes to it'; to postpone dealing with a problem until it actually arises, often with ironic implication that the problem will then be dealt with decisively or destructively.
  • To delay consideration of a future difficulty until the moment it becomes inevitable.

  Examples

  Beta

  • When asked about the upcoming budget cuts, Linda joked, 'We'll just burn that bridge when we come to it.'

    When asked about the upcoming budget cuts, Linda joked, 'We'll just burn that bridge when we come to it.'

  • I know the contract might cause problems later, but let's just burn that bridge when one comes to it, and deal with it then.

    I know the contract might cause problems later, but let's just burn that bridge when one comes to it, and deal with it then.

  • We don’t need to worry about the layoffs now; we’ll burn that bridge when we come to it, as the CEO said during the meeting.

    We don’t need to worry about the layoffs now; we’ll burn that bridge when we come to it, as the CEO said during the meeting.