Cross that bridge when you come to it

Cross that bridge when you come to it
is an idiom that means to not worry about a possible problem until it actually happens.

I'll/we'll cross that bridge when I/we come/get to it
idiom

an expression that means you will not worry about a possible future problem but will deal with it if it happens

SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases:

Planning, expecting and arranging accidentally or on purpose
idiom
aim at something, bargain, have something in mind
idiom
have something up your sleeve
idiom
horizon scanning how are you fixed for something?
idiom
I might have known
idiom
pencil providently provision, purpose, purposefully, purposely put their heads together
idiom
settle sleeve

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a bridge too far

DEFINITION
a step or act that is regarded as being too drastic to take:
"having Botox would be a bridge too far"
something that is very difficult to achieve:
"that second goal proved a bridge too far"
Translate a bridge too far to

German
eine Bruecke zu weit


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build a bridge
To establish a relationship
build a bridge idiom : to establish a relationship (as to foster understanding and appreciation of cultural differences)

build a bridge
idiom
: to establish a relationship (as to foster understanding and appreciation of cultural differences)
They hope to build a bridge between the two cultures.

Examples of build a bridge in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The team will now attempt to modify Stern and Gerlach’s century-old setup to probe the nature of gravity — and perhaps build a bridge between the two pillars of modern physics.
—Leila Sloman, Quanta Magazine, 6 Dec. 2023
Non-Scripted Entertainment A Ponte – The Bridge Brasil Warner Bros. Discovery / Endemol Shine Brasil Brazil 12 participants isolated in the wilderness have 20 days to get to know each other and build a bridge that will take them to a treasure that awaits on the other side of a river.
—William Earl, Variety, 21 Nov. 2023
The Interstate Bridge team must build a bridge that allows ships to pass under it, as well as products manufactured by several local companies located upstream.
—oregonlive, 26 Jan. 2023
My job is to build a bridge between my work and someone who may not be trained in the sciences.
—Stuart Miller, Los Angeles Times, 13 July 2023
The Town Council formally accepted $8.4 million to eliminate the at-grade crossing and build a bridge over the railroad across on Kennedy Avenue, which is part of phase one of the project to extend the road south to U.S. 30.
—Jim Masters, Chicago Tribune, 16 June 2023
But with the economy suffering after the 2008 financial crisis, Italians had grown weary of empty rhetoric, such as his 20-year-old promises to build a bridge between Sicily and the Italian mainland.
—Rachel Donadio, New York Times, 12 June 2023
However, an unexpected revelation leads her to use her cookies to build a bridge to the outside world.
—Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 2 May 2023
My objective is to build a bridge to this entire world that lives in Spanish and that seems to not exist for the rest of society.
—Alejandro MacIel, Los Angeles Times, 24 Apr. 2023
See Less
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'build a bridge.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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The phrase "burn the bridges" means to commit oneself to an irreversible course of action, without possibility of backing down. The expression comes from ancient military history, when soldiers crossing a river literally burned the bridge or boats they had used in order to cut off the possibility of retreat. Burning bridges means severing ties with a person, group, or organization, ending the relationship with a fight or argument, destroying a chance of reconciling the relationship, and preventing any possibility of the other entity or person contacting you again. Burning bridges ensures that you don’t return to the same situation that has been draining for you in the past, emotionally, mentally and physically.

burn bridges
Also found in: Dictionary, Thesaurus, Medical, Financial, Encyclopedia.
burn (one's) bridges
1. Literally, to destroy a bridge or path behind oneself, so that others cannot follow. This usage is often related to military action.
When the troops retreated from the area, they were sure to burn their bridges behind them.
2. To do something that cannot be easily undone or reversed in the future (often because one has behaved offensively or unfavorably).

I think you really burned your bridges when you announced you were quitting and proceeded to insult your boss in front of the whole staff.
She's young, so I don't think she realizes that she'll be burning her bridges if she goes to work for their competitor.
See also: bridge, burn
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2022 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

burn one's bridges (behind one)
1. Lit. to cutoff the way back to where you came from, making it impossible to retreat. The army, which had burned its bridges behind it, couldn't go back. By blowing up the road, the spies had burned their bridges behind them.
2. Fig. to act unpleasantly in a situation that you are leaving, ensuring that you'll never be welcome to return. If you get mad and quit your job, you'll be burning your bridges behind you. No sense burning your bridges. Be polite and leave quietly.
3. Fig. to make decisions that cannot be changed in the future. If you drop out of school now, you'll be burning your bridges behind you. You're too young to burn your bridges that way.
See also: bridge, burn
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

burn (one's) bridges
To eliminate the possibility of return or retreat.
See also: bridge, burn
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

burn one's bridges/boats, to
To commit oneself to an irreversible course of action, without possibility of backing down. The expression comes from ancient military history, when soldiers crossing a river literally burned the bridge or boats they had used in order to cut off the possibility of retreat. A clich; by the nineteenth century, the expression has invited a number of humorous twists, such as “Never burn your bridges till you come to them” (Stanley Walker, 1941). See also cross the Rubicon.
See also: bridge, burn, to
The Dictionary of Clich;s by Christine Ammer Copyright © 2013 by Christine Ammer