Burn That Bridge When One Comes to It

What Does "Burn That Bridge When One Comes to It" Mean?

"Burn that bridge when one comes to it" is an English idiom. It means "a twist on 'cross that bridge when you come to it,' meaning to not worry about a possible future problem but deal with it if it happens, with the added nuance of possibly causing damage in the process."

Examples in Sentences

Here are three examples of the idiom "burn that bridge when one comes to it" used in a sentence:

• Let's not worry about the third phase of the project now; we'll burn that bridge when we come to it.
• Regarding the potential lawsuit, we'll burn that bridge when we come to it.
• Instead of stressing about possible setbacks, he always says he'll burn that bridge when he comes to it.

What Is an Idiom?

An idiom is a commonly used expression whose meaning does not relate to the literal meaning of its words. In other words, if you were to translate "Burn That Bridge When One Comes to It" word for word, there is no guarantee the translation would help you to understand the meaning.

An idiom often includes a cultural or historical context that makes it difficult for non-native English speakers to understand. A phrase is classified as an idiom when a direct translation of the words does not reveal the meaning. Most idioms rely on shared knowledge or experiences known only to a specific community.

A Quick Test

You now know what "burn that bridge when one comes to it" means, but are you good at English idioms? Let's see! Show Instructions