bridge-burningn.
/ˈbrɪdʒbəːnɪŋ/, U.S. /ˈbrɪdʒˌbərnɪŋ/ The action or process of burning bridges (literally and figuratively). Cf. to burn one's bridges (behind one) at bridge n.1 Phrases 7.
ΚΠ
1550 W. Lynne in tr. J. Carion Thre Bks. Cronicles Table sig. Ooiij Bridge burnynge by Mentz.
1768 ‘E. Whirlepool’ Caricatura xii. 105 Truth is truth, and I cannot think any man, however considerable his good will may be to Mr. Wilkes in some respects, is obliged to defend him in his bridge burning and murders.
1861 Sci. Amer. 20 July 7/1 Bridge Burning.—This seems to have become as much a part of the war as the sword and the musket.
1909 McClure's Mag. Apr. 680/1 It was past midnight when the relief train from Castle Cliff reached the scene of the bridge-burning.
2012 N.Y. Times (National ed.) 18 Mar. (Business section) 6/1 Employees at..NBC, JetBlue and other companies have, from time to time, stormed out in style... Journalists seem especially prone to bridge-burning.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2019; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
bridge-burningadj.
/ˈbrɪdʒbəːnɪŋ/, U.S. /ˈbrɪdʒˌbərnɪŋ/ That burns bridges (literally and figuratively). Cf. to burn one's bridges at bridge n.1 Phrases 7.
ΚΠ
1854 N.Y. Semi-Weekly Tribune 10 Jan. 4/3 We protest against any compromise which shall shield the bridge-burning, track-plowing, baby-freezing scoundrels of Erie and Harbor Creek from the legal consequences of their crimes.
1914 Washington Post 19 Mar. 1/2 Two bridge-burning bandits, captured yesterday at Ojo de Aguas, were executed today.
2007 N.Y. Rev. Bks. 15 Feb. 49/4 She wrote a blistering, bridge-burning letter accusing him of hypocrisy.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2019; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
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n.1550adj.1854