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• scorched-earth policy
  scorched-earth policy

  noun

  a military practice of devastating the property and agriculture of an area before abandoning it to an advancing enemy.
• scorched earth policy
  scorched earth policy

  noun

  the policy in warfare of removing or destroying everything that might be useful to an invading enemy, esp by fire

scorched-earth policy

American  

[skawrcht-urth] / ˈskɔrtʃtˈɜrθ /

noun

1. a military practice of devastating the property and agriculture of an area before abandoning it to an advancing enemy.

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scorched earth policy British  

noun

1. the policy in warfare of removing or destroying everything that might be useful to an invading enemy, esp by fire

2. commerce a manoeuvre by a company expecting an unwelcome takeover bid in which apparent profitability is greatly reduced by a reversible operation, such as borrowing at an exorbitant interest rate

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Etymology

Origin of scorched-earth policy

1935–40; apparently translation of Chinese jiāotǔ zhèngcè

Example Sentences

We had hoped for enlightened self-interest from the social media platforms — that they would see and fix the scorched-earth policy that is destroying the public sphere.

From Washington Post • May 3, 2021

In these moments she has a kind of scorched-earth policy on airing her grievances.

From New York Times • Jun. 15, 2020

It follows a similar psychological scorched-earth policy, albeit in a more abstract, cerebral key.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 18, 2015

Their colour and flamboyance was an antidote to the scorched-earth policy of punk, and it set the tone for the rest of the '80s.

From BBC • Feb. 13, 2015

The Soviet scorched-earth policy slowed the advance of the German army.

From Textbooks • Jan. 1, 2012