Burning Bridges

Burning Bridges

Welcome to English in a Minute!

If you hear this expression, does it really mean a bridge is on fire?

BURNING BRIDGES

So, Jessica quit her job.

And before leaving, she told all her co-workers how much she hated them.

Get out!

Why she burn her bridges like that?

Oh, she’s known for burning bridges.

No one in her last job even talks to her.

Why burn a bridge to someone who could help you later?

That’s just stupid.

When you “burn a bridge” you don’t really set fire to anything.

But you are doing something dangerous.

During wartime, soldiers commonly burned bridges to cut their enemies off from supplies.

But burning bridges also meant the soldiers could not retreat.

So, when you burn a bridge, you cut off contact with people or opportunities you might need later.

And that’s English in a Minute!