point of departure
point of departure — phrase
1. an idea, fact, or statement that is used as the starting point for a discussion,
an idea, fact, or statement that is used as the starting point for a discussion, argument, or process of thinking — it gives people a shared reference to build on or react against.
The professor's question about climate change served as a point of departure for a lively class debate.
point of departure + for + [topic]
We used the quarterly sales report as our point of departure to plan next year's budget.
as a/one's point of departure + infinitive purpose
The theory of natural selection is a common point of departure for discussions about biodiversity and conservation.
- starting point
more general, suitable for both literal and figurative contexts
- jumping-off point
less formal, suggests the start of a broader exploration
- foundation
emphasises the structural basis of an argument, less procedural
- baseline
used in analytical or technical contexts for comparison
- conclusion
the end point or final position of a discussion
- destination
the figurative goal or endpoint after reasoning
文法句型
point of departure for [discussion/argument/plan]
point of departure from [previous idea/position]
用法筆記
Commonly used in academic, professional, or intellectual contexts. The phrase can take 'for' (topic area) or 'from' (divergence from an earlier idea). Usually singular.