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I’ve always liked “I’ll burn that bridge when I get to it.”

TheSpiceIsLife 2y ago
One bridge at a time
jachee 2y ago
Brooks & Dunn had a semi-popular song in the 90’s that used a variation on that: https://youtube.com/watch?v=ZxIwlV9qOZs https://youtube.com/watch?v=ZxIwlV9qOZs
lambertsimnel 2y ago
I just heard a podcast that mentions "we’ll burn that bridge when we come to it". There's a transcript here: https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/qdtarchive/mixed-metaphors/ https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/qdtarchive/mixed-metaphors... Here's the relevant part: "sometimes people also like to play with mixed metaphors. It can be a fun way to turn a cliché on its head. For example, I’ve seen people mix the metaphors “Let’s cross that bridge when we come to it,” meaning let’s put off the decision, and “Don’t burn your bridges” meaning don’t destroy a something you’ll need later. They get “We’ll burn that bridge when we come to it,” which combines the meaning of the two metaphors into something like “We’re ready to fight when the right time comes,” and still maintains imagery that makes sense." "We’ll burn that bridge when we come to it" seems to be considered a mixed metaphor, rather than anything more exotic.
digitalsankhara 2y ago
I have not heard that before. My somewhat litteral spectrum disorder brain implies the bridge is burnt before it is crossed. Common ones I hear are "I'll cross that bridge when I come to it" - to delay an action or decision and "Don't burn (all) your bridges..." - leave a path open for a reversal.
- wolfgang42 2y ago
  > the bridge is burnt before it is crossed. That’s the usual interpretation I’ve seen, yes. It’s a mix between the other two metaphors you mention, with the humorous implication that the speaker is going to delay taking an action until dealing with it will cause further problems. Example sentence: “My manager doesn’t know I can’t work on Wednesday, but he hasn’t posted the schedule for the week yet so I’ll burn that bridge when I get to it.”
  - digitalsankhara 2y ago
    Ah, yes. I see that now. Thank you.

One bridge at a time

Brooks & Dunn had a semi-popular song in the 90’s that used a variation on that: https://youtube.com/watch?v=ZxIwlV9qOZs https://youtube.com/watch?v=ZxIwlV9qOZs

lambertsimnel 2y ago

I just heard a podcast that mentions "we’ll burn that bridge when we come to it". There's a transcript here: https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/qdtarchive/mixed-metaphors/ https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/qdtarchive/mixed-metaphors... Here's the relevant part: "sometimes people also like to play with mixed metaphors. It can be a fun way to turn a cliché on its head. For example, I’ve seen people mix the metaphors “Let’s cross that bridge when we come to it,” meaning let’s put off the decision, and “Don’t burn your bridges” meaning don’t destroy a something you’ll need later. They get “We’ll burn that bridge when we come to it,” which combines the meaning of the two metaphors into something like “We’re ready to fight when the right time comes,” and still maintains imagery that makes sense." "We’ll burn that bridge when we come to it" seems to be considered a mixed metaphor, rather than anything more exotic.

digitalsankhara 2y ago

I have not heard that before. My somewhat litteral spectrum disorder brain implies the bridge is burnt before it is crossed. Common ones I hear are "I'll cross that bridge when I come to it" - to delay an action or decision and "Don't burn (all) your bridges..." - leave a path open for a reversal.

wolfgang42 2y ago
> the bridge is burnt before it is crossed. That’s the usual interpretation I’ve seen, yes. It’s a mix between the other two metaphors you mention, with the humorous implication that the speaker is going to delay taking an action until dealing with it will cause further problems. Example sentence: “My manager doesn’t know I can’t work on Wednesday, but he hasn’t posted the schedule for the week yet so I’ll burn that bridge when I get to it.”
- digitalsankhara 2y ago
  Ah, yes. I see that now. Thank you.