burn your bridges
/ˌbɜːn jə ˈbrɪdʒɪz/INFORMAL · C1
Meaning
to do something that makes it impossible to go back later
Examples
- 1Even if you hate the job, leave politely; don't burn your bridges.
- 2When Leo sold his flat and moved abroad, he burnt his bridges completely.
- 3Priya was rude to her old boss on her last day, and now she regrets burning her bridges.
- 4You may need your old company one day, so try not to burn your bridges.
- 5Has Tom really burnt his bridges with the band, or could he still rejoin?
Grammar
burn and your change: burns, burning, burnt or burned; burnt his bridges. Keep bridges plural. burn your boats is also used.
Similar in meaning
More idioms about decisions
All 20 idioms and the topic quiz →a leap in the darka risky choice when you cannot know the resulttake the plungeto finally decide to do something important or riskymake up your mindto decide what to do or which thing to choosesleep on itto wait until the next day before deciding somethingsit on the fenceto avoid choosing between two sides or optionsa no-brainera decision or choice that is very easy
English Idioms400 idioms in 20 topics — with reviews that keep them from fading
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