to change the course of history
8
6.5
- idiom
:
cambiar el curso de la historia
- The invention of the internet has changed the course of history by connecting people around the world.
And you will see they have step by step, began to change the course of history in Cambodia.
- And you will see they have step by step, began to change the course of history in Cambodia.
Examples
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You get to change the course of history.
Fiction book (1996) -
You helped change the course of history.
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We know how to change the course of history and we're not doing it.
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If you can do that, work together... then you can change the course of history.
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We are still a mass of people who have the power to change the course of history.
Blog text (4) -
Can a simple smile to someone else change the course of history?
Blog text (10) -
If anyone anywhere had any doubt that this President would change the course of history, Tuesday night was your answer.
Blog text (33) -
You cannot change the course of history.
Fiction book (2002) -
The prosperity brought about by the miracle formula changed the course of history for Israel.
Fiction book (1995) -
They moved in the shadows... Toppled governments... And changed the course of history.
Synonyms
61
4.1
To do something important that people will remember for a long time
15
4.2
Cause a big change that makes things much better
10
4.0
To make a big difference in a situation that gives a clear advantage
How History-Changing
8
6.5
61
4.1
Surface Forms
Morphology
change + the + course + of + history
The meaning is directly derivable from the parts: 'change' (to alter) + 'course' (route or direction) + 'history' (past events) yields 'alter the direction or trajectory of historical events.' This metaphorical mapping (history having a 'course') is common across many languages and follows standard compositional patterns, so a B1 learner who knows the constituent words would likely understand it.
Etymology
The phrase change the course of history uses the picture of a river of events. If you change a river's course, the water goes to new places and everything along it becomes different. So the phrase means 'to have a big, lasting effect on the future'.