English Explanatory Dictionary

burn one's boats

English dictionary entry

Meanings

verb
  1. To cut oneself off from all chance of retreat; to stake everything on success.

Word forms

burn one's boats burns one's boats burning one's boats burned one's boats burnt one's boats

Etymology

* Perhaps in reference to Tariq Ibn Ziyad, who gave the order to burn his own ships when he landed in Gibraltar, beginning the Islamic conquest of Spain in 711. * Perhaps in reference to Hernán Cortés, who gave the order to destroy his own ships (in reality, by sinking them) when he landed in Veracruz to begin his conquest in 1519.

Related words

burn one's bridges damn the torpedoes go for broke
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