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− | The phrase "Crossing the Rubicon" is a [[metaphor]] for deliberately proceeding past a point of no return. It originates with [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Julius_Caesar Julius Caesar]'s invasion of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_Rome Ancient Rome] when, on January 10, 49 BC, he led his army across the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rubicon Rubicon River] in violation of [[law]], hence making conflict inevitable. Therefore the term "the Rubicon" is used as a synonym to the "point of no return". | + | The phrase "Crossing the Rubicon" is a [[metaphor]] for deliberately proceeding past a point of no return. It originates with [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Julius_Caesar Julius Caesar]'s invasion of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_Rome Ancient Rome] when, on January 10, 49 BC, he led his army across the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rubicon Rubicon River] in violation of [[law]], hence making conflict inevitable. Therefore the term "the Rubicon" is used as a synonym to the "point of no return". |
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| Since then, "point of no return" has become an everyday expression, with its aviation origins probably unknown to most speakers. It has served as a title for numerous literary and entertainment works. | | Since then, "point of no return" has become an everyday expression, with its aviation origins probably unknown to most speakers. It has served as a title for numerous literary and entertainment works. |
| ==Related Expressions== | | ==Related Expressions== |
− | [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alea_iacta_est Alea iacta est] ("The dice is cast"), which is reportedly what Caesar said during the aforementioned crossing of the Rubicon. | + | [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alea_iacta_est Alea iacta est] ("The dice is cast"), which is reportedly what Caesar said during the aforementioned crossing of the Rubicon. |
| ===Equivalent expressions=== | | ===Equivalent expressions=== |
| *Burn one's bridges. | | *Burn one's bridges. |
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| *Burn one's boats. | | *Burn one's boats. |
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− | A variation of burning one's bridges. The Muslim commander [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tariq_ibn_Ziyad Tariq ibn Ziyad], upon setting foot on the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iberian_Peninsula Iberian Peninsula] in 711, ordered his ships to be burnt, so that his men had no choice but to thrust forward and conquer the peninsula. | + | A variation of burning one's bridges. The Muslim commander [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tariq_ibn_Ziyad Tariq ibn Ziyad], upon setting foot on the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iberian_Peninsula Iberian Peninsula] in 711, ordered his ships to be burnt, so that his men had no choice but to thrust forward and conquer the peninsula. |
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− | *"[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Four-character_idiom Break the woks and sink the boats (破釜沉舟])" | + | *"[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Four-character_idiom Break the woks and sink the boats (破釜沉舟])" |
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− | An ancient Chinese saying referring to [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xiang_Yu Xiang Yu]'s order at the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Julu Battle of Julu]; by fording a river and destroying all means of re-crossing it, he committed his army to a struggle to the end with the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qin Qin] and eventually achieved victory. | + | An ancient Chinese saying referring to [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xiang_Yu Xiang Yu]'s order at the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Julu Battle of Julu]; by fording a river and destroying all means of re-crossing it, he committed his army to a struggle to the end with the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qin Qin] and eventually achieved victory. |
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− | *[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_French_phrases_used_by_English_speakers#F Fait accompli] ("accomplished deed", from the verb "faire", to do), a term of French origin denoting an irreversible deed. | + | *[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_French_phrases_used_by_English_speakers#F Fait accompli] ("accomplished deed", from the verb "faire", to do), a term of French origin denoting an irreversible deed. |
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| [[Category: Languages and Literature]] | | [[Category: Languages and Literature]] |