Yet our language is rich in phraseological units that have come from other languages. Many expressions are associated with events that change the course of history. The Latin saying “to cross the Rubicon” was no exception.
Value
The Rubicon is a river in Italy. Once upon a time, it was a kind of cordon between Gaul and Rome - warring states. Caesar, being the head of the legions, after one of his victories became the real threat to the Senate ruling at that time. Senators, realizing the possibility of losing power over all of Rome, forbade Caesar to return to Rome.
Caesar, who does not tolerate losses and is accustomed to winning, could not tolerate such an attitude and decided to violate the ban, that is, to cross the Rubicon. The warriors loyal to Caesar went to war against Rome. But as soon as they got to the city, it became known that there was no resistance. The senators, fearing for their safety, surrendered their city without a fight. Therefore, crossing the "red river". It was this river that became for Caesar the beginning of a new imperial rule in the empire.
What happened to the Rubicon today
Now the Rubicon (now Fiumicino) has ceased to be a full-flowing river as it was many years ago. It's not even on topography maps. Until the 30s of the XX century, the Rubicon, which existed during the reign of Julius Caesar, could not be found. Today it is an unremarkable and small river carrying water directly to the Adriatic Sea. Now the residents, when asked by tourists about the Rubicon, simply point to the signs near the bridge over this river.
Synonyms
If you look for synonyms or analogs for "Rubicon", then the term "risk" is best suited. Many people think that the meaning of the expression about crossing the Rubicon is similar to the meaning of another expression that speaks of the nobility of risk, but the phrases have different meanings. The phrase "to cross the Rubicon" means that a person is 100 percent confident in himself, and the phrase about the nobility of risk implies doubt and "I will be lucky."
The phrase "To cross the Rubicon" in Russian means "to reach an irreversible point", that is, a person will only have to go forward, regardless of the complexity of the choice.
Interpretations
If you do not look into historical references and do not study the events of the time of Julius Caesar, then you can find in speech many other expressions that have become more common and are used much more often. For example, "who does not risk …" "pan or miss" and the like. By the way, in many films, TV series and games, the theme of danger and risk is traced. In such cases, "cross the Rubicon" and similar are used.
Conclusion
The phrase "Cross the Rubicon" has appeared in everyday life for a long time, and it denotes the path to risk, to crossing the point of no return. Passing the Rubicon, it is necessary to remember that a person is fully responsible for the choice he has made.