burn (your) bridges
destroy relationships or options in a way that can't be undone
In Spanish
quemar las naves, cerrar puertas
Examples
- 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.
When it's used
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.
The common mistake
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'.