To cross that bridge when you come to it ➡️🌉⏳

Meaning

To worry about or deal with a problem only when it actually happens, rather than before.

Origin

The image is strikingly simple, isn't it? Imagine standing at the edge of a river, a bridge ahead that might be sturdy or might be out. Do you fret about it now, miles away? No, you walk on, dealing with the crossing only when you reach its banks. This commonsense approach to future anxieties surfaced in literature by the late 18th and early 19th centuries. While the exact first utterance is lost to the mists of time, its pragmatic wisdom has made it a staple in advising against unnecessary worry, urging us to face challenges as they appear, not in fearful anticipation.

🦉🤔 wisdom ☠️ risk ⏳🕰️ time 🗣️ communication

To cross that bridge when you come to it represented with emoji➡️🌉⏳

This playful sequence of emojis, ➡️🌉⏳, invites a dialogue on how we approach the future. It functions as a charming reminder to not rush into worries, but rather to ➡️ cross that 🌉 bridge of time ⏳ only when we arrive. It teaches the viewer the wisdom of present-moment focus, encouraging a delightfully whimsical approach to life's inevitable challenges.

Examples

  • We'll figure out how to fund the project later; let's cross that bridge when we come to it.
  • I'm not worried about finding a new job right now, I'll cross that bridge when I come to it.
  • The dragon might breathe fire, but we'll cross that bridge when we come to it, perhaps with a very large novelty fan.
  • If the wizard turns us into toads, we'll cross that bridge when we come to it, and hopefully enjoy a nice lily pad.

Frequently asked questions

Is 'to cross that bridge when you come to it' a proverb or idiom?

It functions as both an idiom and a proverb, meaning it's a figurative phrase whose meaning isn't deducible from the individual words, and it also offers a piece of common wisdom.

What's the opposite of 'to cross that bridge when you come to it'?

The opposite is planning excessively for every conceivable future problem or 'borrowing trouble' from the future when it's not yet happening.

Did anyone famous coin 'to cross that bridge when you come to it'?

The exact origin is unknown, but the sentiment appears in writings from the late 18th and early 19th centuries, suggesting it evolved organically rather than being coined by a single famous individual.

Can 'to cross that bridge when you come to it' be considered bad advice?

While generally practical for avoiding anxiety, it can be considered bad advice if it leads to a lack of necessary preparation for predictable future events that require planning.

Similar to "to cross that bridge when you come to it"

Don't borrow trouble
Both advise against premature worry, but 'don't borrow trouble' has a slightly more folksy, cautionary feel, like a grandparent warning you not to get ahead of yourself
Take things one day at a time
Both advocate for handling life's challenges as they arrive, but 'one day at a time' emphasizes a rhythm and pace for managing ongoing difficulties, rather than a specific future event
S'appeler de la musique
This French idiom, literally 'to call oneself music,' suggests enjoying the present moment to the fullest, a bit like our phrase says to wait for the big decisions until they're unavoidable, but with an added flourish of vibrant, in-the-moment enjoyment

Opposite of "to cross that bridge when you come to it"

Better safe than sorry
This phrase argues for proactive caution and preparation, directly contrasting with the 'wait-and-see' attitude. It suggests that agonizing over potential problems now is prudent, not a waste of energy
Forewarned is forearmed
This champions foresight and planning, insisting that anticipating future problems is the key to overcoming them, a stark departure from dealing with issues only when they materialize
Nip it in the bud
This urges immediate action against nascent problems, the polar opposite of letting things develop until they 'must' be dealt with, highlighting the value of decisive, early intervention

Related to "to cross that bridge when you come to it"

Boiling the ocean
This phrase describes tackling an overwhelmingly large or impossible task, a situation one might avoid by 'crossing that bridge when you come to it'
A stitch in time saves nine
This proverb champions proactive maintenance and early problem-solving, making it a close philosophical cousin to the 'wait-and-see' approach, but with an emphasis on preventative action
The path of least resistance
Choosing this path suggests avoiding immediate difficulty, much like delaying a confrontation until it's unavoidable, though it can also imply a certain passivity or lack of ambition
Kicking the can down the road
Both phrases involve postponing action, but 'kicking the can' often carries a negative connotation of delaying an inevitable, perhaps unpleasant, decision, whereas 'crossing that bridge' is about managing uncertainty