Scorched earth意思

"Scorched earth" is an English term that originates from military strategy, where it refers to the practice of destroying anything that might be useful to the enemy in the event of a retreat, especially food and crops. The literal translation of the phrase is "burned earth." The idea is to deprive the enemy of resources, making it more difficult for them to advance or to occupy the territory.

The term can also be used metaphorically to describe any action that aims to deny resources or benefits to an opponent, often in a way that causes widespread destruction or damage. For example, a company might use scorched-earth tactics in a legal dispute by filing numerous lawsuits and motions in an attempt to exhaust the resources of the other party.

In a broader sense, "scorched earth" can refer to any situation where extreme measures are taken to ensure that nothing is left for the opponent, even if it means causing significant harm or destruction.