Burn your bridges
/bɜːn jɔː ˈbrɪdʒɪz/neutral, informalUK · US
What does “Burn your bridges” mean?
Burn your bridges means to destroy a relationship or opportunity so thoroughly that you cannot return to it.
Burning bridges is about permanence. The action itself might be small, a parting email, but the consequence is that the relationship cannot be revived.
It is most often used as a warning.
When do people say it?
Common career advice: don't leave a job in a way that makes return impossible.
“Resign politely, there's no need to burn your bridges.”
Is it formal or informal?
Register: neutral, informal. It is most at home in both everyday conversation and professional writing. Most common in UK and US.
Where does it come from?
From the military practice of destroying a bridge behind an advancing army.
Origin confidence: Well documented
How do you say “Burn your bridges” in other languages?
Related idioms
- Water under the bridge, A past problem that no longer matters.
- Call it a day, To stop for the day, or stop altogether.
Last reviewed 2026-09-11