2006-10-14 18:08:53 · 10 answers · asked by Sammy 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Languages
When you are printing or making a mold of something, the process is
not reversible. If you don't like the results, you have to start over again.
The mold is sometimes called the die.
The expression basically means that something major and irreversible
has happened and now we're going to have to deal with the consequences.
2006-10-14 18:10:26 · answer #1 · answered by Elana 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
"Die" is the singular form of "dice." "Cast" in this context, means "thrown." Once the die is thrown, the result is final; you can't un-throw it. Likewise, certain actions are decisive and cannot be undone. The quote is from Julius Caesar; once he had crossed the Rubicon River, against orders, he had defied his government. He could not go back to being an obedient general.
It is interesting that this Latin expression, translated into English, is also subject to an alternate meaning, die-cast metal, and that the figurative meaning comes out the same: you can't change what's done.
2006-10-15 01:20:23 · answer #2 · answered by The First Dragon 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Cast usually means hardened in this instance. When you fire a pot the die gets cast onto the pot, unmovable. As in, you can't take it off again. Can you dig it?
2006-10-15 01:14:02 · answer #3 · answered by dww32720 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
the die is form or a mold for shaping
it`s normally made of sand
2006-10-15 01:17:33 · answer #4 · answered by gussie r 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Putting stuff in the kiln that you can't ever take back because it's already been fired. I'm talking about ceramic pottery.
2006-10-16 01:27:53 · answer #5 · answered by themyth60 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
iacta alea est
the die is cast:
a decisive step has been taken; an irrevocable decision has been made; fate has taken charge
Quote by Julius Ceasar
2006-10-15 01:10:54 · answer #6 · answered by n.hyatt 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
it is the same as 2the wheels are in motion" and a whole bunch of others.
It is a way of saying that a chain of actions has started and you cant go back.
2006-10-15 01:17:02 · answer #7 · answered by Anita N 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The dice have been rolled and the result known, therefore no going back.
2006-10-15 01:13:37 · answer #8 · answered by potterlike 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It sounds to me as if it should be mean that one should be readying him / herself for something. But, that is just a guess.
2006-10-15 01:12:53 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well, basically it means that you can't change it now, or it's too late.
2006-10-15 01:11:20 · answer #10 · answered by Goddess Kitty 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋