burn one's boats
Remove all exits
To burn one's boats is to eliminate any possibility of retreat, forcing full commitment to a course of action.
The image comes from military commanders who destroyed their own ships after landing, leaving troops no option but to fight forward.
Once she resigned, she'd burned her boats—there was no going back.
Also *burn one's bridges*.
- decisivenessAbility to choose firmly
- decisive actionFirm choice, promptly executed
- boldnessFearless readiness to act
- bold moveAudacious action with risk
- no retreatRefusal to fall back
finality · courage · gamble · bet the farm · resolve · determination · conviction · ancient warfare · dedication · daring · throw caution · single-mindedness · point of no return · fearlessness · unwavering · high stakes · all-in · sink or swim
burn one's boatskeep one's options open
Maintain multiple possibilities
hedge one's bets · play it safe · sit on the fence · cover one's bases · vacillate
burn one's boatshedge one's bets
Reduce risk by diversifying
equivocate · temporize · prevaricate · procrastinate · dither
burn one's boatsplay it safe
Avoid unnecessary chances
hedge one's bets · err on the side of caution · dip one's toe in · test the waters · hold back
burn, burns, burned, burnt, burning, burner, burners, burnout, sunburn