Rubicon
/ˈruːbɪkɒn/1
- a stream in NE Italy which marked the ancient boundary between Italy and Cisalpine Gaul. Julius Caesar led his army across it into Italy in 49 BC, breaking the law forbidding a general to lead an army out of his province, and so committing himself to war against the Senate and Pompey. The ensuing civil war resulted in victory for Caesar after three years.鲁比肯河（位于意大利东北部的河流, 为意大利和山南高卢的古代界河; 公元前49年尤利乌斯·恺撒率部队跨过此河进入意大利, 违背了将领不得率部越出自己行省的法律, 这样使自己向罗马元老院和庞培宣战, 接着发生了三年内战, 结果恺撒取得胜利）。
1.1
- as noun a point of no return没有退路：
on the way to political union we are now crossing the Rubicon.
在通往政治联盟的途中我们现在没有退路。