World Languages Lexicon
10 Language-to-English DictionariesBurn one's boats
/bɜːn wʌnz bəʊts/Comprehensive Definitions & Senses
1 sense- 1
To act in a way that makes retreat or turning back impossible, committing fully to a course of action.
"By handing in his resignation before securing another job, he truly burned his boats."
Thesaurus & Semantic Spectrum
Linguistic Origin & Historical Etymology
Derived from military strategy where commanders ordered their troops to destroy their own ships upon landing in enemy territory to ensure there was no possibility of retreat. This idiom dates back historically to events such as Julius Caesar or general Xiang Yu, symbolizing absolute commitment and the elimination of any alternative options.
Which of the following is the closest synonym for "Burn one's boats"?
10 Global Lexicons: How "Burn one's boats" is said worldwide
Click any language below to open its dedicated Language to English dictionary page with native script & transliteration
brûler ses vaisseaux
Transliteration: brûler ses vaisseaux
"En démissionnant, il a brûler ses vaisseaux pour se consacrer à son entreprise."
alle Brücken hinter sich abbrechen
Transliteration: alle Bruecken hinter sich abbrechen
"Um erfolgreich zu sein, musste er alle Brücken hinter sich abbrechen."
bruciare i ponti
Transliteration: bruciare i ponti
"Ha deciso di bruciare i ponti e trasferirsi all'estero."
quemar las naves
Transliteration: quemar las naves
"Para lograr su sueño de ser actor, tuvo que quemar las naves."
queimar os navios
Transliteration: queimar os navios
"Ele decidiu queimar os navios e focar totalmente no novo projeto."
वापसी का रास्ता बंद करना
Transliteration: vaapsi ka raasta band karna
"अपने लक्ष्य को पाने के लिए उसने वापसी का रास्ता बंद कर लिया।"
破釜沉舟
Transliteration: pò fǔ chén zhōu
"为了赢得比赛，全队决定破釜沉舟。"
배수진을 치다
Transliteration: baesujineul chida
"그는 이번 프로젝트를 위해 배수진을 치고 임했다."
背水の陣を敷く
Transliteration: haisui no jin o shiku
"彼は会社を辞めて、背水の陣を敷いて起業した。"
Related Vocabulary Words to Explore
View all English termsTo think carefully about something, typically before making a decision.
A formal, documented account of findings, investigations, or statistics issued by an authoritative body or government agency.
Used to express pleasure, realization, surprise, or understanding.
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