Bridges don't just help us get from one place to another, they can also help us express ourselves. Here are some examples:
If someone is trying to "build bridges" with another person or group, they are trying to improve their relationship. They're trying to make it easier for people to get closer to one another, just like a bridge would.
So if you're trying to negotiate a business deal with a new client, you might say to your partner, "We need to build bridges with the new client, let's invite him/her to dinner."
If a person does something that destroys a relationship or an opportunity that they can't undo, you can say they have "burned their bridges." This expression comes from when an army would burn bridges during war to stop their enemy from crossing them.
If something happened a long time ago and is no longer important or worth thinking about, you can say that it's "water under the bridge." Water in a river is always moving — so water that's gone under the bridge is no longer important, and it will never return.
Practice sentence building by using the following:
*build bridges
*burn bridges
*water under the bridge
Discussion
*Have you ever heard or used any of the expressions in the article?
*Is there anyone you'd like to build bridges with?
*Are there any impressive bridges in your country? If so, have you ever seen them? *What famous bridges would you like to see someday? *Have you learned any interesting or unusual English expressions recently? *What is your favourite way to learn new words and phrases? *What do you find most confusing about English? Please explain your answer. *Learning another language is one of the best things you can do with your time. — Unknown. Do you agree? Why? Why not?
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