Up the river Meaning in English
expression
ˈəp/ /ˈðə/, /ðə/, /ði/ /ˈɹɪvɝ
UHP-thuh-RIV-er
ˈʌp/ /ðə, ði/ /ˈɹɪvə
UP-thuh-RIV-uh
Definition
This expression means to send someone to prison or jail. It can also mean that someone has been betrayed or abandoned, especially in a legal context.
Usage & Nuances
'Up the river' is informal and mainly used in American English, often as a euphemism for going to prison. It can also mean betraying someone (especially testifying against them), as in 'send someone up the river.' Not commonly used in British English.
Spanish: a la cárcel - encarceladoPortuguese (BR): para a cadeia - presoPortuguese (PT): para a cadeia - presoChinese (Simplified): 坐牢 - 被关进监狱Chinese (Traditional): 坐牢 - 被關進監獄Hindi: जेल भेजनाArabic: إلى السجن - أُودِع السجنBengali: জেলে পাঠানো - প্রতারণা করা (বিশেষ করে সাক্ষ্য দিয়ে)Russian: отправить за решётку - предать (особенно дать показания против)Japanese: 刑務所に送る - 裏切る（特に証言する場合）Vietnamese: bỏ tù - phản bội (đặc biệt là làm chứng chống lại ai đó)Korean: 감옥에 보내다 - 배신하다(특히 증언하다)Turkish: hapse göndermek - ihanet etmek (özellikle aleyhine tanıklık etmek)Urdu: جیل بھیجنا - دھوکہ دینا (خاص طور پر گواہی دینا)Indonesian: memasukkan ke penjara - mengkhianati (terutama bersaksi melawan seseorang)
Example Sentences
He was sent up the river for robbery.
basic
They caught her stealing and she went up the river.
basic
If you break the law, you might end up the river.
basic
His partner betrayed him and sent him up the river.
natural
Don’t worry, I won’t send you up the river for this mistake.
natural
After the trial, he knew he was going up the river.
natural