phrase
Crossing the Rubicon
Making an irreversible decision.
Origin
In 49 BCE, Roman law forbade a general from bringing his army across the Rubicon, the river marking the boundary between his province and Italy. Julius Caesar crossed it anyway, allegedly saying 'alea iacta est' ('the die is cast'). Civil war followed; he won, and the Republic effectively ended.
Modern usage
Used for any point of no return โ quitting a job, going public with a secret, launching a war.
In the wild
By accepting the offer, he crossed the Rubicon.โ common usage
Tags
irreversible
decision
war