diff --git a/src/util/expr.h b/src/util/expr.h
index 920cf6a73dc..a0e24c948e9 100644
--- a/src/util/expr.h
+++ b/src/util/expr.h
@@ -105,8 +105,13 @@ class exprt:public irept
   void reserve_operands(operandst::size_type n)
   { operands().reserve(n) ; }
 
+  DEPRECATED("use copy_to_operands(expr) instead")
   void move_to_operands(exprt &expr);
+
+  DEPRECATED("use copy_to_operands(e1, e2) instead")
   void move_to_operands(exprt &e1, exprt &e2);
+
+  DEPRECATED("use copy_to_operands(e1, e2, e3) instead")
   void move_to_operands(exprt &e1, exprt &e2, exprt &e3);
 
   /// Copy the given argument to the end of `exprt`'s operands.