burning bridges
Destroying future options
Burning bridges means destroying relationships or opportunities in ways that can't be undone, eliminating the possibility of return or reconciliation.
The image is of an army destroying the bridge behind it—there's no going back.
Usually used as a warning or regret: Don't burn your bridges with your old employer.
Someone who burns bridges leaves jobs or relationships badly, making future cooperation impossible.
- severingCutting apart completely
- betrayalBreaking of trust
- bad bloodLasting hostile feelings
- regretSorrow over past actions
- finalityState of conclusive completion
no turning back · no going back · scorched earth · bitter end · estrangement · toxic relationship · goodbye · cutting ties · slamming doors · closing doors · irreversible · ashes · flames · grudge · departure · abandonment · reconciliation · forgiveness
- figurative actionsbiting tongue, burying hatchet, cutting ties, jumping ship, losing face
- no returncrossing the Rubicon, Rubicon, point of no return, death, birth
- career mistakesjob hopping, bad reference, missed deadline, blaming others, bad attitude
- idiomstime flies, hit the sack, seize the day, ring a bell, break a leg
- quittingquit, resign, resignation, stop, end
- proverbsproverbs, sayings, maxims, adages, aphorisms
burning bridgesbuilding bridges
Fostering relationships between parties
mending fences · networking · keeping in touch · keeping doors open · making amends
burning bridgeskeeping options open
Preserving future choices
hedging bets · playing it safe · diversifying · risk mitigation
burning, bridges, burn, bridge, burned, burnt, burner, burns, bridged