Looking up...
burn bridges
/bɜːrn brɪdʒɪz/◆idiom
to destroy relationships
After quitting his job without notice, he burned bridges with his former colleagues.
He permanently damaged his relationships with his coworkers by leaving abruptly.
informal
To permanently damage a relationship by acting in a way that makes reconciliation impossible.
She burned bridges with her family by refusing to speak to them for years.
She permanently damaged her relationship with her family by cutting off communication.
He burned bridges with his boss by publicly criticizing the company.
He destroyed his professional relationship with his boss by speaking negatively about the company in public.
This idiom is often used to describe actions that make future cooperation or reconciliation difficult or impossible.
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Avoid burning bridges
In professional settings, it's often advisable to maintain good relationships even when leaving a job or ending a partnership to preserve future opportunities.
Gold Rule
Permanence
The phrase implies a permanent or near-permanent damage to a relationship, so use it when the damage is significant and unlikely to be repaired.
Word Origin
The phrase originates from the literal act of burning bridges behind an army to prevent retreat, symbolizing a point of no return. It was first recorded in the early 20th century.
Usage Notes
This idiom is commonly used in both personal and professional contexts to describe actions that irreparably damage relationships.
Word Breakdown
burn
to destroy or damage
rootbridges
a connection or relationship
rootEnglish Dictionary