proverb · Words worth keeping
Don’t cross a bridge till you come to it.
Don’t cross a bridge till you come to it.
Historical period not yet established
Understand the thought
Meaning in plain English
Crossing a bridge before reaching it pictures dealing prematurely with a future obstacle. The saying asks that uncertain problems not consume all present attention.
What the words are saying
A bridge marks a point on a journey at which a particular response becomes necessary. A qualified reading separates anticipatory worry from useful planning; it does not make future problems unreal or forbid preparing for them. The relevant question is what can responsibly be done now.
Everyday example
Someone notes a possible future decision, makes the preparation currently needed and returns to today’s task.
When to use it
Use it to balance current attention with proportionate preparation.
What it does not mean
A real future risk may need action now; the phrase is not a universal reason to postpone it.
Agent-assisted editorial interpretation. This explains the words; it does not by itself verify their author or earliest origin.
Attribution & collection notes
- Author or tradition
- Traditional
Attribution: traditional - Country attributed
- Not established
A country attribution does not establish the earliest origin. - Historical period
- Historical period not yet established
No sufficiently supported historical placement has been established. Import and download dates are not treated as composition dates. - Recorded source
- Contributor-provided proverb reference
Supplied reference A; unit 812; PDF page 115
A collection's publication date can be later than the words it records.