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Glite Dictionary
to cross that bridge when it comes

to cross that bridge when it comes

5.8
To deal with a problem only when it happens, not before
  • idiom
  • Informal
translation icon : ya veremos
  • There's no point in worrying—let's just cross that bridge when it comes.

Examples

  • I prefer to cross that bridge when it comes rather than worry now.

  • Whenever faced with uncertainty, he likes to cross that bridge when it comes.

  • She prefers to cross that bridge when it comes, rather than stress now.

  • Let's cross that bridge when it comes!

  • There's no point in worrying—let's just cross that bridge when it comes.

  • Whenever faced with uncertainty, he likes to cross that bridge when it comes.

  • She prefers to cross that bridge when it comes, rather than stress now.

Synonyms

to play it by ear
vsto cross that bridge when it comes
11 6.2

Decide what to do as things happen rather than plan ahead

waits to confront problems only when they arise
to take as it comes
vsto cross that bridge when it comes
  • Informal
6 5.0

Accept what happens calmly and do not worry

focuses on acting only after a problem has happened
to play the hand one is dealt
vsto cross that bridge when it comes
1 6.7

To accept what you cannot change and make the best of it

centres on postponing action until problems actually appear
to take each challenge as they come
vsto cross that bridge when it comes
  • Informal
5.2

Deal with problems one at a time as they happen

delays dealing until a problem actually happens
to build a bridge and get over it
vsto cross that bridge when it comes
  • Informal
9.4

Tell someone to stop worrying about a problem and move on

suggests addressing issues only when they arrive rather than now

Antonyms

to worry about
∞ 2.0

Feel afraid about what might happen to someone or something

proaction
7.8

To take action before a problem happens

Surface Forms

cross that bridge when it comes infinitive
crossed that bridge when it comes past
crossed that bridge when it comes past participle
crossing that bridge when it comes present participle
crosses that bridge when it comes third person singular

Morphology

cross + that + bridge + when + it + come

The meaning 'to deal with a problem only when it happens' is directly inferable from combining 'cross' (to go over) with 'bridge' (an obstacle or passage) and 'when it comes' (upon its appearance), so the intended action is clearly to deal with the obstacle only once encountered. This concrete spatial-to-problem metaphor is common cross-linguistically, so an average B1 learner who knows the constituent words would likely understand the expression without prior exposure.

Etymology

Cross that bridge when it comes makes a simple picture: imagine walking to a river and only cross the bridge when you get there. That's why it means 'deal with a problem only when it happens'.