scorched-earth policy

• 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," New York Times (retrieved 2 Nov 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," New York Times (retrieved 2 Nov 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.

• scorched earth / scorched-earth