Crossing that bridge when we come to it 🚶🌉

Meaning

To deal with a problem or situation when it actually happens, rather than worrying about it in advance.

Origin

The imagery is simple yet powerful: a river blocks your path, and a bridge offers the only way across. Until you reach the riverbank, there's no point stressing about the bridge itself. This metaphor for confronting future challenges only when they become present realities has been around for ages, with variations appearing in literature for centuries. It's a fundamental concept, a pragmatic nod to the futility of worrying about hypothetical obstacles. The phrase likely solidified its current form through common usage, becoming a universally understood piece of advice to live in the present and tackle problems as they arise, not before.

⏳🕰️ time ☠️ risk 🦉🤔 wisdom 🗣️ communication

Crossing that bridge when we come to it represented with emoji🚶🌉

This playful juxtaposition of a lone walker and a grand bridge invites us to consider the familiar idiom, "crossing that bridge when we come to it." It functions as a delightful visual reminder that, sometimes, the best approach to life's challenges is simply to put one foot in front of the other and tackle them as they arise, rather than fretting about them prematurely.

Examples

  • We don't need to decide on the new office layout right now; we'll cross that bridge when we come to it.
  • I'm not worried about the exam difficulty yet, I'll cross that bridge when we come to it.
  • Whether the dragon decides to join our tea party is a concern for later; we shall simply cross that bridge when we come to it.
  • If the squirrels unionize and demand acorns as currency, we'll be sure to cross that bridge when we come to it.

Frequently asked questions

Is 'Crossing that bridge when we come to it' a proverb or an idiom?

The phrase 'Crossing that bridge when we come to it' is generally considered an idiom, not a proverb. While it offers advice like a proverb, its meaning is figurative and not a literal truth stated as a general principle.

What's the opposite of 'Crossing that bridge when we come to it'?

The opposite of 'Crossing that bridge when we come to it' is to 'borrow trouble' or to 'cross bridges before you come to them'. Both phrases describe worrying about or planning for future problems that may never occur.

Who first used the phrase 'Crossing that bridge when we come to it'?

The exact origin of 'Crossing that bridge when we come to it' is unknown, but the concept and similar imagery have been used for centuries in literature. Its current idiomatic form likely emerged through common usage rather than a single author.

Does 'Crossing that bridge when we come to it' mean you should never plan for the future?

No, 'Crossing that bridge when we come to it' does not advocate for a complete lack of future planning. It advises against unnecessary worry and premature focus on problems that may not materialize, suggesting a more immediate, pragmatic approach to challenges.

Similar to "Crossing that bridge when we come to it"

Play it by ear
Both suggest dealing with things as they come, but 'play it by ear' conjures the improvisational spirit of a musician responding to the moment, unlike the more literal, slightly stoic image of crossing a bridge
Wait and see
Both advocate for deferred action, but 'wait and see' sounds more like passive observation, whereas 'crossing that bridge when we come to it' implies a more active, determined approach to an inevitable challenge
Don't count your chickens before they hatch
Both caution against premature assumptions, but 'crossing that bridge' is about facing future challenges, while 'don't count your chickens' is specifically about not assuming future successes

Opposite of "Crossing that bridge when we come to it"

Forewarned is forearmed
This argues for diligent preparation and foresight, directly countering the idea of waiting for a problem to appear before addressing it, because knowledge of a potential threat is a strategic advantage
It pays to be prepared
This proverb champions proactive planning, highlighting that investing time and resources into anticipating and mitigating future issues is a wise and beneficial strategy, rather than simply reacting when problems arise
A stitch in time saves nine
This perspective insists that addressing small issues immediately prevents them from snowballing into much larger, more unmanageable problems, directly challenging the wisdom of waiting until the 'bridge' is upon you

Related to "Crossing that bridge when we come to it"

Let sleeping dogs lie
This phrase shares a root in avoiding unnecessary disruption, but whereas 'crossing that bridge' deals with inevitable problems, 'let sleeping dogs lie' advises against stirring up existing, perhaps dormant, issues
Take things one day at a time
Both phrases promote managing overwhelm by focusing on the present, but 'crossing that bridge' is about confronting a specific future obstacle, while 'one day at a time' is a broader, often therapeutic, approach to managing life's general difficulties
Head in the sand
This phrase evokes a similar scenario of avoiding an approaching issue, but 'head in the sand' implies a willful, ostrich-like ignorance and denial, whereas 'crossing that bridge' suggests a calm, considered acceptance of eventual necessity
In the thick of it
This vividly describes being actively engaged in a difficult situation, which is precisely where you end up if you've deferred dealing with a problem until you 'come to the bridge'