burn one's bridges

[burn one's bridges] also [burn one's boats] {v. phr.}

To make a decision that you cannot change; remove or destroy all the ways you can get back out of a place you have got into on purpose; leave yourself no way to escape a position.

/Bob was a good wrestler but a poor boxer. He burned his boats by letting Mickey choose how they would fight./

/When Dorothy became a nun, she burned her bridges behind her./

Source: A Dictionary of American Idioms

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	{v. phr.} ²¹⁸⁸

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	boat [boat] See: BURN ONE'S BRIDGES also BURN ONE'S BOATS, IN THE SAME BOAT, MISS THE ... A Dictionary of American Idioms burn up [burn up] {v.} 1. To burn completely; destroy or be destroyed by fire. * /Mr. ... A Dictionary of American Idioms burn out [burn out] {v. phr.} 1. To destroy by fire or by overheating. * /Mr. Jones ... A Dictionary of American Idioms burn one's fingers [burn one's fingers] {v. phr.}, {informal} To get in trouble doing something and fear to ... A Dictionary of American Idioms burn down [burn down] {v. phr.} To burn to the ground; be totally gutted by fire. * ... A Dictionary of American Idioms burn rubber [burn rubber] {v. phr.}, {slang} 1. To start up a car or a motorcycle from ... A Dictionary of American Idioms ears burn [ears burn] {informal} To feel embarrassment or shame at hearing others talk about you. * ... A Dictionary of American Idioms


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