burn your bridges

Meaning

This idiom means to act in a way that makes it impossible to return to a previous state or relationship, especially by offending or alienating people. In professional contexts, it usually refers to leaving a job on bad terms, making it impossible to work there again or get a good reference in the future.

Examples

• Even if you hate your current job, don't burn your bridges when you hand in your resignation.

  Even if you hate your current job, don't burn your bridges when you hand in your resignation.

• He insulted his former boss during the interview, completely burning his bridges with that company.

  He insulted his former boss during the interview, completely burning his bridges with that company.

• I want to decline their job offer politely because I don't want to burn any bridges for the future.

  I want to decline their job offer politely because I don't want to burn any bridges for the future.

• She left the agency on great terms, making sure not to burn her bridges.

  She left the agency on great terms, making sure not to burn her bridges.

• Sending that angry email to the client was a mistake; you've permanently burned your bridges with them.

  Sending that angry email to the client was a mistake; you've permanently burned your bridges with them.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ I don't want to burn my bridges behind me.

  ✓ I don't want to burn my bridges.

  Adding 'behind me' is redundant because bridges are inherently behind you once crossed. It is much more natural to just say 'burn my bridges'.

• ✗ He burned his bridges and now he has no way to cross the river.

  ✓ He burned his bridges and now he can never work at that firm again.

  Do not use the idiom literally. It is used metaphorically to describe ruined professional or personal relationships, not physical obstacles.

Related Expressions

Practice

• Make sure you leave on good terms; you don't want to ___.

  💡 An idiom about destroying connections or relationships permanently.

  Show answer

  burn your bridges

• By insulting the project manager, he ended up ___ with the entire department.

  💡 Use the gerund form of the idiom.

  Show answer

  burning his bridges