burned one's bridges
Made return impossible
To burn one's bridges is to take an action that makes it impossible to return to a previous situation or relationship.
The image comes from military strategy: an army crossing a river might destroy the bridge behind it to prevent retreat, forcing commitment to the forward path.
In everyday use, it typically describes leaving a job badly, ending a relationship acrimoniously, or making any irreversible decision that closes off options.
She really burned her bridges when she told off her boss on the way out.
- irrevocableCannot be undone
- no turning backCommitment beyond reversal
- point of no returnThreshold beyond which reversal impossible
- estrangementEmotional separation between people
- severanceTermination pay or disconnection
cut ties · break it off · daring · commitment · choice · courage · ruin · finality · gone too far · ashes · scorched-earth · scorched earth policy · alienation · reconciliation · crossroads · termination · repercussions · abandonment
burned one's bridgeskept one's options open
Preserved multiple possible paths
hedged one's bets · played it safe · sat on the fence · diversified · kept one's powder dry
burned one's bridgesmended fences
Repaired strained relationships
built bridges · buried the hatchet · made amends · networked
burned one's bridgessat on the fence
Remained undecided between options
waffled · dithered · wavered · vacillated · equivocated
burned, burns, burning, burner, burners, burnout, bridge, bridges, bridged