burn (your) bridges

destroy relationships or options in a way that can't be undone

• Resigning publicly and badmouthing the company means burning bridges.
• After storming out of the meeting, she realized she had burned her bridges.
• Quitting without notice is a sure way to burn your bridges in that industry.

The idiom is used to describe actions that destroy relationships or eliminate options irreversibly. It's fairly common in conversational English and can be used in both speech and writing. It is often used in professional or personal contexts where decisions have lasting consequences.

A common mistake is confusing it with 'quemar las naves' and translating it literally as 'burn the ships', which does not have the same meaning in English. Additionally, it's important to remember that 'to burn bridges' is a fixed metaphor and should not be altered to forms like 'burn the bridges'.

• preaching to the choir
  arguing a point to people who already agree
• the best-laid plans of mice and men
  even careful planning can fail
• in the thick of it
  in the busiest or most intense part of an activity
• have a finger in every pie
  be involved in many activities or projects