Idiomatic Sayings - The Point Of No Return

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This phrase refers to the point at which safe retreat or return to base and the starting out location is no longer practical or possible. It is particularly significant with aircraft, which are supposed to return to their launch airport if they experience signs of malfunction, but once more than fifty percent of their fuel has gone or they are more than half way to their destination, such a return is viable and they have no choice but to see their journey through. It applies in life too. A car may be in danger of collision, and reaches a point at which evasive steering no longer makes a difference. The passengers have no real option but to brace for impact. If taking a run to prepare to jump a chasm, the runner reaches a point at which deceleration or trying to stop, or turn away from the edge will result in a fall into the chasm, and the only safe option is completing the leap anyway. Even this post had its point of no return. I could have quit writing it at any point or just not pressed send, but here it is, though of course I could delete or edit it later it will now have been read. It has passed its point of no return. The term applies to everything from boiling water in a kettle to the chances of unprotected sex leading to pregnancy. Arthur Chappell