A rite of passage

Posted by Lotg on September 25, 2004

In Reply to: A rite of passage posted by re on September 25, 2004

:
: dating him became nothing less than a *rite of passage*,sort of like your first limo ride and your first robbery, combined.

: what can that possibly mean?

: thanks

MW says:

Main Entry: rite of passage
: a ritual associated with a crisis or a change of status (as marriage, illness, or death) for an individual

or possible a clearer definition:

noun: a ritual performed in some cultures at times when a individual changes his status (as from adolescence to adulthood)

Your example is peculiar and I'd prefer to hear it in context, but it sounds like the writer is saying that dating this guy was both exciting and glamorous(limo ride), and risky (robbery) all at the same time. Figuring out why dating this guy was a rite of passage is a bit harder, unless it was this woman's first date.