cross the Rubicon

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.

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cross the Rubicon (third-person singular simple present crosses the Rubicon, present participle crossing the Rubicon, simple past and past participle crossed 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.

• the die is cast

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