破釜沉舟
- Literal
- smash the cauldrons and sink the boats
- Figurative
- To burn one's boats: to commit fully with no way back, staking everything on a single decisive effort.
Where does 破釜沉舟 come from?
In the closing years of the Qin dynasty, the general Xiang Yu led his army across the river to relieve the state of Zhao, which was besieged by Qin forces. Once on the far bank, he ordered all the boats sunk, the cooking cauldrons smashed and the camps burned, leaving each soldier just three days' rations. With no means of retreat or return, his troops fought with desperate resolve and crushed the much larger Qin army at the battle of Julu.
Source (出处): 《史记》
How is 破釜沉舟 used? Two examples
- 为了创业，他卖掉房子，破釜沉舟，再也没有退路。
To launch his startup he sold his house and burned his boats; there is no way back for him now.
- 决赛只剩最后一局，我们只能破釜沉舟，全力一搏。
With only the final round of the championship left, all we can do is burn our boats and give it everything we have.
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