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errguitar commented on the word burn the ships
Leaves no option to retreat or back out of a course of action once committed. Simply put, no going back. This expression dates to Hernando Cortez and the Spanish conquest of Mexico (1519) where upon landing his forces he ordered his ships burned to present no option for escape to his troops.
January 10, 2009
gangerh commented on the word burn the ships
Surely he was quoting Julius Caesar?
January 10, 2009