Listen to a story with idiom "Don't burn your bridges"

Meaning #1: Bỏ lại tất cả mọi thứ phía sau

If you burn your bridges, you do something that makes it impossible to go back from the position you have taken. It will hurt/destroy your relationship.

Audion Example:

View transcript >>

I wasn't negative about why I left the job. I didn't want to burn my bridges. I might want to use my old boss as a reference.

He burned his bridges when he published that book about the politics at his old company.

Lưu ý rằng thành ngữ này không giống với thành ngữ tiếng Việt là “Qua cầu rút ván”! Thành ngữ “Burn your bridges” nói lên rằng việc cắt đứt liên hệ với những gì đã đạt được trước đó không phải là một việc làm hay.

Example:

If you drop out of school now, you'll be burning your bridges behind you. You're too young to burn your bridges that way.

Meaning #2: Ra đi không một lời từ biệt (Dứt áo ra đi).

Burning Bridges is an expression synonymous to the "Point of no return", typically used when a relationship becomes irreparable.

Our relationships with others are like bridges that take us from one place to another; when we "burn our bridges" we destroy our relationships and it is difficult to go back. "Don't burn your bridges" means that it is important to remember and value the relationships that get you where you are and not damage those relationships.

Some examples:

"On his last day on the job he got in a huge fight with his boss. Why would he want to go burning his bridges like that? Someday he might want to work there again."

"I wish you hadn't been rude to that man just now; he is very important in this town and you shouldn't go around burning bridges."

“You should give them 2 weeks notice before you quit, you don't want to burn your bridges with the people at your work.”

Hãy nghe một đoạn video sau với lời khuyên trước khi nghỉ việc, đừng bao giờ "Burn your bridges":

Transcript:
So you've just found your next great opportunity and you're not certain how to leave the current one. My name is Wade Childress I'm with the Hospice of the Florida Suncoast and I'm here to tell you how to quit your job. First thing is it's a conversation, go in to your boss, talk to your boss, they're a person just like you, let them know it's just time for you to move on. You might be asked to write a letter of notice that's fine, no problem, be respectful, in your conversations, in your letter, be respectful there's no need to be hateful or hurtful. K.I.S.- keep it short, there's no need to have a long letter there's no need to have a long conversation, don't let it draw out. Give appropriate notice, usually that's two weeks sometimes that's four weeks if you have a contract that might be three months six months or even a year. If you have a contract read your contract through make certain you understand what the appropriate notice is. Don't burn your bridges. Take it easy, relax, you're going to see these people again you're probably going to work with them again in some way shape or form so don't burn your bridges. Say thanks for the opportunity, whatever time you've spent there you've gained something you've grown say thank you for the opportunity it's just time to move on and you're ready to do so. Again good luck with your next job hope things go well, keep the conversation simple and I'm Wade Childress I'm with the Hospice of the Florida Suncoast and I've told you how to quit your job.

Listen to a part of real story from www.npr.org:

View transcript.

I got back to work by not burning bridges. I stayed in touch on good terms with the company that laid me off in a head-count reduction. Four years later, they hired me out of career change training to replace somebody who was retiring. Don't burn bridges no matter how satisfying it might be on your last day.

Read more with the advice of Suze Orman, an American financial advisor, author, motivational speaker, and television host: Click here

Don't burn your bridges!
Before you walk out on a job or get into a risky financial relationship, consider the long-term consequences.

Question: My friends and I talk about how much we'd love to leave our unfulfilling jobs. It would be great to tell our bosses, "Get lost!" and walk out. Right now, not one of us has the money to make that a possibility, but I've decided to start saving so that if I ever want to quit my job on the spur of the moment, I can. How much do I need for my escape fund? And how should I keep this money safe?

Suze: I find it fascinating—and revealing—that you and your friends all feel that your jobs are unfulfilling. To me, this signals that your wish to leave your job may come not from dissatisfaction with what you do, but rather from how you feel about who you are. Like attracts like, my dear, and you and your friends are probably reinforcing a sense of unhappiness in one another. Friends do that, you know—support each other in ways that are both good and not so good. Even if your job is unfulfilling, I want you to stop and ask yourself what good it does to tell your boss to get lost. My guess is, not much.

Even if you amass a large fallback fund, that money will last only so long before you'll have to find another job. When that happens, the same boss you left high and dry will be the one telling your prospective new boss about your positive and negative qualities. The lesson: Don't burn your bridges, especially in this economy. I have to say, it saddens me to learn that the only reason you want to start saving is to collect a "get lost" fund directed at your boss. Instead, I urge you to consider creating a nest egg targeted to your own hopes, needs and dreams. I would much rather see you save money to buy a home, go back to school, fund your retirement, or even take a vacation than to spite your boss. I would recommend you put eight months' worth of expenses into an emergency fund in case you lose your job before you're ready to—that is, in case your boss leaves you before you're financially prepared to leave him. Please remember, getting a new job—let alone a more fulfilling one—can take longer that you might expect. So plan for the worst—and if the best happens, you'll have a good reason to celebrate with your friends.