Hi this is Tutor Nick P and this is Idioms 389. The idiom today is to burn your bridges
or sometimes you can say burn your bridges behind you. Okay. If somebody wants a screenshot. Now's a
good time. Let's get right to it. This idiom could be for ... be rephrased to to burn one's boats
or to burn your bridges behind you. So could we burn your bridges, burn your bridges behind you,
or to burn one's boats. All right. Let's continue. If someone burns his or her bridges
it ... you know, it cuts off and stops all means of retreat. Yes. Thus it forces one to fight
with more determination. One realizes that they cannot cut and run. So it's the army
and you burn the bridges behind you. You can't run away again because you burnt those bridges.
So you have to fight. It turns into a do or die situation. Okay. Let's continue.
The origin of this idiom derives from war tactics in ancient times. There are two theories. One is
that during the Roman Empire, governments sometimes burnt bridges for two reasons.
One was to make it impossible for the enemy to escape. So once the enemy was passed there , you
burn the bridges behind him he can't go back that way., but at the same time the Roman soldiers
could not retreat as well. So it kind of force them to fight and fight harder because you know,
if they got a little scared or they thought they were losing, they might just try to you know,
retreat and run. Now they have to fight. One had to fight to the death. Some say Julius Caesar
literally used this strategy. The expression started to be used in English in the 1800's.
You know probably you know, coming from this idea or at least that's what we think. Some others say
this may have come from a Sun Tzu quote. You know, the famous Chinese military strategist. You know
from thousands of years ago that wrote you know, " The Art of War. " Here is his quote . "Where where
your army has crossed the border you should burn your boats and bridges. " So he covers
both in the same quote. " In order to make it clear to everybody that you have no hankering
after home. " You know , hankering means a strong desire for something. If you have a hankering. So
that's basically one of the tactics that he's saying as well. All right. Let's continue.
And we just really have two examples to show how we might use this. Although to be honest a lot
of times. We do use this sometimes. People will use it as a warning to someone. Well don't burn
your bridges. Meaning don't make it so that you can't back out of this. So a lot of times it is
used that way , but here's two examples we use today. I know you have angry feelings against
your your boss. However, you , you should hand in your resignation and quit the official way. If
you blow up , you know blow up. You know get angry, lose control and have an argument when you quit,
you will burn your bridges. So they basically telling them don't do that. Don't burn your
bridges and never be able to return to that company and it may affect your chances of
getting a future job too. You know, if they ever call they found out you worked there. They
call those people. Maybe that could interfere with your future jobs too. So they're saying.
Don't do that. Don't burn your bridges. Okay. Good. And we've got the second one here.
You broke up with your ex. You know, ex-girlfriend or ex-wife. It could be either one
in a messy way. Now you need her help. There is no way she's going to help you . You already burned
your bridges. You know, so maybe before , if you broke up and you know, more like a mutual breakup.
You know, maybe she still might think well we were friends. You know, you're like a friend I'll help
you , but no you broke up in a very messy way. She probably can't stand to see your face. So you
kind of burn that bridge. So if you need her help. She's not going to help you anymore. Okay. Anyway,
I hope you got it. I hope it was clear. I hope it was informative. Thank you for your time. Bye-bye.