Cross That Bridge When You Come To It: Origin and Meaning

This expression is used to delay worrying about something that might happen until it actually happens. It’s usually used in the larger phrase, “Let’s cross that bridge when we come to it”: a way of telling someone not to worry about something that has not happened yet.

Although there are claims of several different origins for this idiom, there is no specific definite origin. However, it is likely to date from a time in history when crossing bridges was dangerous, due to their poor quality of construction; this made the crossing of bridges a more serious task than it is today.

A. “What if we can’t find a hotel when we reach the city?”
B. “We can cross that bridge when we come to it.”

A. “Do you know if the road ahead still closed?”
B. “No, so I guess we’ll cross that bridge when we come to it.”

“The job interview isn’t until next week, so I’m not worried about it yet- I’ll cross that bridge when I come to it”