scorched-earth policy

• scorched earth policy

See scorched earth.

The ruins of Richmond, Virginia, victim of a Confederate scorched-earth policy.

scorched-earth policy (plural scorched-earth policies)

1. (military) A strategy that involves destroying buildings, crops, and other resources that could be useful to opponents.
   • 1993 April 24, Donatella Lorch, “Eritreans Voting on Independence From Ethiopia”, in New York Times, retrieved 2 November 2013:

     The Ethiopian Army waged a scorched-earth policy with saturation bombings and destruction of Eritrea's infrastructure.

2. (figuratively) An intentional course of action that is drastic or ruinous.
   • 1997 May 3, Warren Hoge, “Blair Takes Charge, Vowing 'Practicable' Policies”, in New York Times, retrieved 2 November 2013:

     The scorched-earth policy that voters adopted toward the Tories left them with no seats in Scotland and Wales and greatly reduced numbers through the prosperous swath called Middle England.

   • 2021 November 17, “Network News: National Highways refutes Dorset bridge removal allegations”, in RAIL, number 944, page 26:

     Group member Graeme Bickerdike said: "With its infilling and demolition programme currently paused, NH has adopted a scorched-earth policy of destroying habitats to ensure there are no ecological barriers to projects resuming quickly when government gives the green light.

• scorched earth / scorched-earth