cross the Rubicon

English

Etymology

Refers to Julius Caesar's crossing of the Rubicon River to wage civil war with Rome, on January 10, 49 BC, in violation of law. This act is also the origin of the phrase the die is cast.

Verb

to cross the Rubicon

1. (idiomatic) To make an irreversible decision or to take an action with consequences.

   He knew that by coming out to his family he would be crossing the Rubicon but he could not live a lie anymore.

Related terms

• the die is cast

Translations

to make an irreversible decision

• Afrikaans: die Rubicon oorsteek (af)
• Chinese: trad. and simpl. 破釜沉舟 (pinyin: pòfǔchénzhōu)
• Finnish: ottaa ratkaiseva askel
• French: franchir le Rubicon (fr), passer le Rubicon (fr)
• German: den Rubikon überschreiten (de)
• Greek: διαβαίνω τον Ρουβίκωνα, περνώ τον Ρουβίκωνα

• Icelandic: taka örlagaríka ákvörðun (is)
• Italian: passare il Rubicone
• Portuguese: atravessar o Rubicão
• Russian: перейти Рубикон
• Serbo-Croatian: прећи Рубикон (sh) (preći Rubikon)
• Spanish: pasar el Rubicón

See also

• point of no return
• burn one's bridges
• burning boats