[Idiom] burn your bridges

[Saki6]

burn your bridges
: to do something that makes you unable to go back to a previous situation
Even after leaving his job, he tried to stay on friendly terms with his former boss because he didn't want to burn his bridges.

Is this idiom used in daily speech?

 

[Rover_KE]

It's quite common in BE.

 

[GoesStation]

And in the American variety.

 

[andrewg927]

It is common. You don't use it every day because it refers to a specific situation.

 

[Tdol]

It is used when necessary. It could be common or less common, according to needs, but it is not archaic.

 

[probus]

I think its most common current use is in the negative as related to business. Never burn your bridges is always good business advice.

 

[heimerdinger]

As a learner, I hardly saw this idiom for sure... my English class doesn't have a native America teachers.





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[teechar]

As a learner, I [STRIKE]hardly saw[/STRIKE] haven't come across this idiom. [STRIKE]for sure...[/STRIKE] My English class doesn't have a native American teacher.

Could you please correct the information on your profile page?

 

[Lynxear]

It is often used in business or employment situations.

Let us say you are leaving one job and accepting another. If you "burn your bridges" then you would leave the old job on bad terms, thinking that you don't need them anymore. This action is silly since later in life you might need that old company for a reference and they won't give you one.

John! I know you had a lot of problems working at ABC Industries. I am happy that you have accepted work at a new company. However, do not burn your bridges at ABC Industries, doing so may harm you sometime in the future.

 

[emsr2d2]

I'd use "Don't burn your bridges with ABC Industries", not "to ABC Industries".

 

[Rover_KE]

Yes, it is also common in Georgia.

Please don't use home-made emoticons to replace standard punctuation marks.