bridge burned
Connection permanently ended
A bridge burned is a relationship, opportunity, or connection that has been permanently damaged or destroyed, usually through one's own actions.
The metaphor comes from military strategy—burning a bridge behind you eliminates retreat.
Someone who burns bridges alienates former allies or closes off options: After that email to the CEO, that's a bridge burned.
The phrase often appears as a warning: Don't burn your bridges.
- severedCut off completely
- ashesBurned matter's residue
- betrayalBreaking of trust
- bad bloodLasting hostile feelings
- irreversibleCannot be undone
no turning back · regret · grudge · trust · broken · estranged · goodbye · scorched · flames · ruins · crossing · relationship · walked away · finality · smoke · wreckage · too far gone · fallout
- Point of no returnRubicon, threshold, tipping point, event horizon, no going back
- endingsending, the end, finish, close, final
- regretswhat if, hindsight, second thoughts, wrong choice, squandered