burn one's bridges en · VERB
Pronunciation
- (Australia) audio
Etymology
Originally in the military sense of intentionally cutting off one's own retreat (burning a bridge one has crossed) to commit oneself to a course of action, later used primarily to mean alienate former friends.
Meanings
-
(idiomatic) To destroy one's path, connections, reputation, opportunities, etc., particularly intentionally.
Don't you burn your bridges behind you / You might wanna turn and come back again / The bridge you burn today, you may need it again for tomorrow / Might bring sorrow
1974, Ecstasy, Passion & Pain, “Don't Burn Your Bridges Behind You”, in Ecstasy, Passion & Pain:
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| burns one's bridges | Number=Sing, Person=3, Tense=Pres | lexicographic | |
| burning one's bridges | Tense=Pres, VerbForm=Part | lexicographic | |
| burned one's bridges | Tense=Past, VerbForm=Part | lexicographic | |
| burned one's bridges | Tense=Past | lexicographic | |
| burnt one's bridges | Tense=Past, VerbForm=Part | lexicographic | |
| burnt one's bridges | Tense=Past | lexicographic |
Deriveds
burn that bridge when one comes to it
Relateds
burn one's boats · point of no return · bridge-burning · build bridges · bridge-burner
Synonyms
Translations (39)
da brænde alle broer (burn one's bridges) · sv riva alla broar (burn one's bridges) · ru рва́ть все свя́зи (burn one's bridges) · sv bränna alla broar (burn one's bridges) · ru сжига́ть все мосты́ (burn one's bridges) · fr brûler ses vaisseaux (burn one's bridges) · it bruciarsi i ponti alle spalle (burn one's bridges) · is brjóta allar brýr að baki sér (burn one's bridges) · ar قَطَعَ كُلّ عَلَاقَات (burn one's bridges) · fr brûler les ponts (burn one's bridges) · uz muloqotni buzmoq (burn one's bridges) · is brenna allar brýr að baki sér (burn one's bridges) · cmn 過河拆橋 /过河拆桥 (burn one's bridges) · fr faire sauter les ponts (burn one's bridges) · ja 退路を断つ (burn one's bridges) · it il dado è tratto (burn one's bridges) · es quemar las naves (burn one's bridges) · da brænde alle broer bag sig (burn one's bridges) · ja 関係を絶つ (burn one's bridges) · fi polttaa siltansa (burn one's bridges) · es quemar los puentes (burn one's bridges) · cmn 破釜沉舟 (burn one's bridges) · nl je schepen achter je verbranden (burn one's bridges) · sv bränna sina skepp (burn one's bridges) · sv bränna sina broar (burn one's bridges) · de alle Brücken hinter sich abbrechen (burn one's bridges) · pl palić za sobą mosty (burn one's bridges) · fr couper les ponts (burn one's bridges) · ar قَطَعَ اَلْجُسُور (burn one's bridges) · ja 縁を切る (burn one's bridges) · pt queimar as pontes (burn one's bridges) · nn bryte alle bruer (burn one's bridges) · da bryde alle broer (burn one's bridges) · ar حَرَقَ اَلسُّفُن (burn one's bridges) · da bryde alle broer bag sig (burn one's bridges) · nb bryte alle bruer (burn one's bridges) · ja 背水の陣 (burn one's bridges) · nb bryte alle broer (burn one's bridges) · it passare il Rubicone (burn one's bridges)