{"id":5823,"date":"2022-09-14T16:38:13","date_gmt":"2022-09-14T16:38:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/english-grammar-lessons.com\/?p=5823"},"modified":"2022-09-14T16:39:58","modified_gmt":"2022-09-14T16:39:58","slug":"burn-bridges-meaning","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/english-grammar-lessons.com\/burn-bridges-meaning\/","title":{"rendered":"Burn Bridges \u2013 Meaning, Origin and Usage"},"content":{"rendered":"

Are you through with dealing with someone? If you never want to see them again, you could \u2018burn bridges<\/em><\/strong>\u2019 and walk away from the relationship. This post unpacks the meaning and origin of this expression.<\/p>\n

Meaning<\/h2>\n

The expression \u2018burn bridges\u2019<\/em> means you\u2019re severing ties with a person, group, or organization.<\/u> You end the relationship with a fight or argument,<\/u> destroying a chance of reconciling the relationship.<\/u> You prevent any possibility of the other entity or person contacting you again.<\/u><\/p>\n

Example Usage<\/h2>\n

\u201cMy dad told me never to burn bridges. He said you never know where life takes you and when you might need that relationship.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI burn bridges with people that do wrong against me. I don\u2019t deal with friends that claim they have your back but are never around when you need them.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t care if I never speak to you again. I\u2019m burning bridges and don\u2019t want you to contact my family or me.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBurning bridges is always a bad move. Just walk away and don\u2019t speak to the other person again. There\u2019s no reason to conflagrate the situation into a nasty turn of events.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019ll find that when you burn bridges, you usually regret it a few months later. If you don\u2019t, you might have sociopathic tendencies.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m burning bridges with him. I\u2019m tired of the way he treats everyone else. It\u2019s like he only cares about himself. I\u2019m done with that guy.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAre you going to burn bridges with the company? You might regret it when your next employer calls the company for a reference.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSure, you can burn bridges, but where does that get you? There\u2019s really no point to it, just walk away from the relationship and don\u2019t look back.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWow, she really went all out to burn bridges with me. She chewed me out over the phone and said she never wants to see me again.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\" \"\"<\/p>\n

Origin<\/h2>\n

The expression 'burn bridges' originates from the late 19th century. It derives from the concept of burning a bridge during a military operation to prevent armed forces from crossing it.<\/p>\n

During wartimes, soldiers would cross a bridge and burn it to prevent retreat. Essentially, it's an obligation to take a specific action that makes an alternative route impossible for the enemy.<\/p>\n

The original version of the saying is 'burn one's boats,' which has the same meaning. Language experts are unsure when 'burn bridges' replaced 'burn boats.'<\/p>\n

The first record of the saying was in 711 AD when the Muslim army invaded the Iberian Peninsula. Tariq bin Ziyad ordered troops to burn the boats.<\/p>\n