Phrase guide

cross the Rubicon

verb · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

verb

Meaning 1

To make an irreversible decision or to take an action with consequences.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic

Examples

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

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

Refers to Julius Caesar's crossing of the Rubicon to wage civil war with Rome, on January 10, 49 BCE, in violation of law. Suetonius' use of the phrase the die is cast in describing this act popularized the use of that phrase, which was first attributed to the Greek dramatist Menander.

Across languages

Translations

33 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Afrikaans: die Rubicon oorsteek — to make an irreversible decision
  • Catalan: passar el Rubicó — to make an irreversible decision
  • Chinese Mandarin: 破釜沉舟 (pòfǔchénzhōu) — to make an irreversible decision
  • Dutch: de Rubicon oversteken — to make an irreversible decision
  • Esperanto: transiri Rubikonon — to make an irreversible decision
  • Finnish: ottaa ratkaiseva askel — to make an irreversible decision
  • Finnish: ylittää Rubicon — to make an irreversible decision
  • French: franchir le Rubicon — to make an irreversible decision
  • French: passer le Rubicon — to make an irreversible decision
  • Galician: cruzar o Rubicón — to make an irreversible decision
  • German: den Rubikon überschreiten — to make an irreversible decision
  • Greek: διαβαίνω τον Ρουβίκωνα (diavaíno ton Rouvíkona) — to make an irreversible decision
  • Greek: περνώ τον Ρουβίκωνα (pernó ton Rouvíkona) — to make an irreversible decision
  • Hebrew: חצה את הרוביקון (khatsá et harubikon) — to make an irreversible decision
  • Icelandic: taka örlagaríka ákvörðun — to make an irreversible decision
  • Icelandic: brenna allar brýr að baki sér — to make an irreversible decision
  • Italian: passare il Rubicone — to make an irreversible decision
  • Italian: il dado è tratto — to make an irreversible decision
  • Italian: bruciarsi i ponti alle spalle — to make an irreversible decision
  • Kyrgyz: Рубиконду өтүү (Rubikondu ötüü) — to make an irreversible decision
  • Polish: przekraczać Rubikon — to make an irreversible decision
  • Polish: przekroczyć Rubikon — to make an irreversible decision
  • Portuguese: atravessar o Rubicão — to make an irreversible decision
  • Russian: перейти́ Рубикон (perejtí Rubikon) — to make an irreversible decision
  • Serbo-Croatian: прећи Рубикон (preći Rubikon) — to make an irreversible decision
  • Spanish: pasar el Rubicón — to make an irreversible decision
  • Swedish: gå över Rubicon — to make an irreversible decision
  • Swedish: korsa Rubicon — to make an irreversible decision
  • Ukrainian: перейти́ рубіко́н (perejtý rubikón) — to make an irreversible decision
  • Ukrainian: переступи́ти рубіко́н (perestupýty rubikón) — to make an irreversible decision
  • Ukrainian: перехо́дити рубіко́н (perexódyty rubikón) — to make an irreversible decision
  • Ukrainian: переступа́ти рубіко́н (perestupáty rubikón) — to make an irreversible decision
  • Vietnamese: phóng lao thì phải theo lao — to make an irreversible decision