burn (your) boats

British & Australian, British, American & Australian

to do something that makes it impossible for you to change your plans and go back to the situation you were in before.

She didn't want to burn her boats by asking for a divorce, so she suggested a trial separation instead.

I'd already burned my bridges with my previous employer by publicly criticizing their products.

• cut loose
• cut loose someone
• cut loose something
• cut losses
• cut no ice with
• cut no ice with someone
• cut off nose to spite face
• cut off nose to spite your face
• cut off your nose to spite face
• cut off your nose to spite your face
• cut out
• cut out for
• cut out for something
• cut out something
• cut own throat
• cut someone dead
• cut someone down to size
• cut someone loose
• cut someone some slack
• cut someone to the quick
• cut some slack
• cut something down to size
• cut something loose
• cut teeth
• cut teeth in