Tiếng Việt · Idiom Attested

qua cầu rút ván

In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.

Both English Tiếng Việt

Meaning · English

To discard the people who helped you once you no longer need them; to destroy the way back after getting what you wanted.

Nghĩa · Tiếng Việt

Bỏ rơi những người đã giúp mình khi không còn cần họ

Machine-translated — suggest a fix

Literally: Cross the bridge, then pull up the planks.

How to use it

✓ Use it when

Condemning opportunists who cut ties after being helped.

Where it’s used: Used Toàn quốc & hải ngoại · Vietnam-wide & diaspora

Examples

Nhờ người ta giới thiệu vào công ty rồi quay lưng luôn — qua cầu rút ván.He got the referral into the company, then turned his back completely — crossing the bridge and pulling up the planks.

Editorial example (illustrative, not a corpus attestation)

Equivalents & related

Near equivalent burn your bridges To act in a way that makes returning to a previous situation or relationship impossible, often by leaving on bad terms. English Related ăn cháo đá bát To be ungrateful — to turn against or abandon the very person who helped you. Tiếng Việt Related qua đò khinh sóng To scorn a danger once it is safely behind you — becoming dismissive or arrogant after hardship has passed. Tiếng Việt Near equivalent bite the hand that feeds you To harm or betray someone who has helped or supported you. English · via ăn cháo đá bát

Lighter cards are two steps away in the meaning graph — equivalents of equivalents, reached via the entry shown on the card.

Common questions

What does “qua cầu rút ván” mean?

To discard the people who helped you once you no longer need them; to destroy the way back after getting what you wanted. Literally: Cross the bridge, then pull up the planks.

Is “qua cầu rút ván” formal or informal?

qua cầu rút ván is generally neutral; connotation: reproachful.

What is the closest equivalent?

“burn your bridges” (English) — near equivalent.