# burn one's bridges

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/burn-ones-bridges
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

To destroy one's path, connections, reputation, opportunities, etc., particularly intentionally.

## Examples

- Don't burn your bridges before you find a new job.
- He insulted his former boss on social media, effectively burning his bridges with the entire company.
- By publicly denouncing the organization that nurtured his early career, the ambitious writer burned his bridges and ensured he would never be welcomed back.

## Origin

The phrase originates from a military tactic in which a retreating or advancing force intentionally destroyed the bridge it had just crossed. By setting the timber alight, the commander ensured that his own troops could not retreat, thereby committing the men to a singular course of action through the elimination of any other geographical alternative. The physical act of arson served as a mechanism for internal discipline; one cannot return to where one was if the path no longer exists. While the literal bridge-burning was a matter of logistics and steel, the idiom has since transitioned into the social sphere to describe the terminal alienation of one's former associates.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.