burn one's bridges

Originally in military sense of intentionally cutting off one's own retreat (burning a bridge one has crossed) to commit oneself to a course of action, later used primarily to mean “alienate former friends”.

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burn one's bridges

1. (idiomatic) To destroy one's path, connections, reputation, opportunities, etc., particularly intentionally.

   Even if you are dismissed from a job in the worst way, take care to not burn your bridges with unseemly comments on the way out, since you never know who you will meet again.

• cross the Rubicon

• burn that bridge when one comes to it

• point of no return