What Does "Up the River" Mean?
"Up the river" is an English idiom. It means "sent to prison; in a difficult situation."Examples in Sentences
Here are three examples of the idiom "up the river" used in a sentence:- He was caught stealing and ended up going up the river.
- If we don't deliver on our promises, we'll be up the river with our clients.
- His actions could land him up the river.
What Is an Idiom?
An idiom is a commonly used expression whose meaning does not relate to the literal meaning of its words. In other words, if you were to translate "Up the River" word for word, there is no guarantee the translation would help you to understand the meaning.An idiom often includes a cultural or historical context that makes it difficult for non-native English speakers to understand. A phrase is classified as an idiom when a direct translation of the words does not reveal the meaning. Most idioms rely on shared knowledge or experiences known only to a specific community.
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