<Li> Burn one's bridges . This expression is derived from the idea of burning down a bridge after crossing it during a military campaign, leaving no choice but to continue the march . Figuratively, it means to commit oneself to a particular course of action by making an alternative course impossible . It is most often used in reference to deliberately alienating persons or institutions whose cooperation is required for some action . For instance, "On my last day at my old job, I told my boss what I really think about the company . I guess I burned my bridges ." </Li> <Li> Burn one's boats . This is a variation of "burning one's bridges", and alludes to certain famous incidents where a commander, having landed in a hostile country, ordered his men to destroy their ships, so that they would have to conquer the country or be killed . <Ul> <Li> One such incident was in 711 AD, when Muslim forces invaded the Iberian Peninsula . The commander, Tariq ibn Ziyad, ordered his ships to be burned . </Li> <Li> Another such incident was in 1519 AD, during the Spanish conquest of Mexico . Hernán Cortés, the Spanish commander, scuttled his ships, so that his men would have to conquer or die . </Li> <Li> A third such incident occurred after the Bounty mutineers reached Pitcairn Island . </Li> <Li> Two similar stratagems were used during the Chu--Han Contention (206--202 BCE); these have led to Chinese idioms, elaborated below . </Li> <Li> Also mentioned in the Roman myth of Aeneas, who burned his boats after conquering territory in Italy . </Li> <Li> Similar incidence was recorded in Burmese history . In the Battle of Naungyo during the Toungoo--Hanthawaddy War in 1538, the Toungoo armies led by Gen. Kyawhtin Nawrahta (later Bayinnaung) faced a superior force of Hanthawaddy Kingdom on the other side of a river . After crossing the river on a Pontoon bridge (rafts in another version) Bayinnaung ordered the bridge to be destroyed . This action was taken to spur his troops forward in battle and provide a clear signal that there would be no retreat . </Li> </Ul> </Li> <Ul> <Li> One such incident was in 711 AD, when Muslim forces invaded the Iberian Peninsula . The commander, Tariq ibn Ziyad, ordered his ships to be burned . </Li> <Li> Another such incident was in 1519 AD, during the Spanish conquest of Mexico . Hernán Cortés, the Spanish commander, scuttled his ships, so that his men would have to conquer or die . </Li> <Li> A third such incident occurred after the Bounty mutineers reached Pitcairn Island . </Li> <Li> Two similar stratagems were used during the Chu--Han Contention (206--202 BCE); these have led to Chinese idioms, elaborated below . </Li> <Li> Also mentioned in the Roman myth of Aeneas, who burned his boats after conquering territory in Italy . </Li> <Li> Similar incidence was recorded in Burmese history . In the Battle of Naungyo during the Toungoo--Hanthawaddy War in 1538, the Toungoo armies led by Gen. Kyawhtin Nawrahta (later Bayinnaung) faced a superior force of Hanthawaddy Kingdom on the other side of a river . After crossing the river on a Pontoon bridge (rafts in another version) Bayinnaung ordered the bridge to be destroyed . This action was taken to spur his troops forward in battle and provide a clear signal that there would be no retreat . </Li> </Ul> <Li> One such incident was in 711 AD, when Muslim forces invaded the Iberian Peninsula . The commander, Tariq ibn Ziyad, ordered his ships to be burned . </Li>

Where does the phrase burn the boats come from