bridges

burn one's bridges (behind one)

1. Lit. to cutoff the way back to where you came from, making it impossible to retreat. The army, which had burned its bridges behind it, couldn't go back. By blowing up the road, the spies had burned their bridges behind them.

2. Fig. to act unpleasantly in a situation that you are leaving, ensuring that you'll never be welcome to return. If you get mad and quit your job, you'll be burning your bridges behind you. No sense burning your bridges. Be polite and leave quietly.

3. Fig. to make decisions that cannot be changed in the future. If you drop out of school now, you'll be burning your bridges behind you. You're too young to burn your bridges that way.

See also: burn

burn one's bridges in front of (one)

Fig. to create future problems for oneself. (A play on burn one's bridges (behind one).) I made a mistake again. I always seem to burn my bridges in front of me. I accidentally insulted a math teacher whom I will have to take a course from next semester. I am burning my bridges in front of me.

See also: burn, front

---

build bridges

to improve relationships between people who are very different or do not like each other (often + between ) A local charity is working to build bridges between different ethnic groups in the area.

See build up a head of steam

See also: build

burn your boats  (British & Australian) also burn your bridges (British, American & Australian)

to do something that makes it impossible for you to change your plans and go back to the situation you were in before She didn't want to burn her boats by asking for a divorce, so she suggested a trial separation instead. I'd already burned my bridges with my previous employer by publicly criticizing their products.

See burn fingers

See also: boat, burn

---

build bridges

to increase understanding between different people or groups They wanted to build bridges and believed that an international conference would be the best way to start that process.

See also: build

burn your bridges

to permanently and unpleasantly end your relationship with a person or organization Welles had burned his bridges so badly with the movie studios that they laughed when you mentioned his name.

Etymology: based on the military action of burning a bridge you have just crossed to prevent the enemy from crossing it after you

See also: burn