at a crossroads
at a crossroads (idiom)
/ˈæt ə ˈkrɑːsˌroʊdz/
Variants
- stand at a crossroads
- be at a crossroads
- find oneself at a crossroads
Meaning
- Being in a situation where an important choice between alternatives must be made.
- Standing at a turning point in life, career, or circumstances.
- Facing a critical decision point that will shape the future.
- Experiencing a decisive stage in a process, relationship, or development.
Synonyms: turning point; crisis; dilemma; junction; decision point; watershed; fork.
Example Sentences
- After graduating college, she found herself at a crossroads about her career path.
- The company is at a crossroads and must choose between expansion or downsizing.
- He’s at a crossroads in his relationship and unsure whether to commit or walk away.
- The peace talks are at a crossroads, with the next decision determining the outcome.
- Example Sentences with Variants
- She decided to stand at a crossroads and reflect before making her next career move.
- Many young adults find themselves at a crossroads after finishing school.
- The organization seems to be at a crossroads where it must choose a new direction.
Origin and History
The most fundamental theory about the origin of “at a crossroads” lies in its literal interpretation: a place where two or more roads meet. For travelers in ancient times, reaching a crossroads presented a direct and immediate need to choose a direction. This physical act of choice, with its inherent uncertainty and potential for different outcomes, naturally lent itself to a figurative meaning.
Crossroads in Folklore and Mythology
Places of Decision and Fate
Crossroads have long held a symbolic significance in various cultures and mythologies, often representing a point of transition, choice, or even a connection between different worlds. This ancient belief system likely contributed to the idiom’s development.
For instance, in Greek mythology, crossroads were strongly associated with deities like Hecate, the goddess of magic, witchcraft, and ghosts, and Hermes, the god of travelers and guide of souls. Offerings were often left at crossroads for Hecate, and Hermes’ pillars frequently marked these intersections. This connection to powerful figures and significant rituals underscores the idea of crossroads as places where fate could be influenced or decisions of great consequence were made.
Burial Grounds and Supernatural Encounters
In some Western folklore, crossroads were also considered liminal spaces, “between the worlds,” making them sites where supernatural spirits could be contacted. In Great Britain, there was a tradition of burying criminals and suicides at crossroads, possibly to confuse the dead or to mark them as outside the bounds of consecrated ground. While this might seem morbid, some accounts suggest a more charitable reason, viewing crossroads as places closest to consecrated ground for those denied traditional burial. These associations further cemented the idea of crossroads as places of profound significance and sometimes, unusual events.
African Spirituality and the Kongo Cosmogram
In African spiritual practices, particularly in traditions like conjure, rootwork, and Hoodoo in the United States, the crossroads holds deep significance. Its origin in this context can be traced to the Kongo cosmogram from Central Africa, which symbolizes the rising and setting of the sun and the human life cycle of death and rebirth.
Within this belief system, the “turn” in the path, or the crossroads, represents a powerful point of intersection between ancestors and the living. It is believed to be a place where divine powers can be witnessed and spiritual renewal can occur. The Yoruba people of West Africa also have a trickster deity, Eshu-Elegba, who resides at the crossroads and to whom offerings are made. These rich spiritual beliefs highlight the crossroads as a place of profound choice, transformation, and interaction with the spiritual realm.
Earliest Printed Records
The figurative use of “at a crossroads” to describe a point of decision has been present for a very long time. In the 1500s, there is a reference from the Greek poet Theognis’s Elegies (around 600 BC), quoted by Erasmus, stating: “I stand at the crossroads.” This suggests the metaphorical use of the term dates back millennia.
The concept of crossroads as a symbol for crucial decisions has a long and documented history. The use of “crossroads” in a figurative sense to denote a point where an important choice must be made has been noted since at least the late 18th century.
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