up the river

Idioms and Phrases

To or in prison, as in They sent him up the river for five years . This phrase originally referred to Sing-Sing Prison, on the Hudson River about 30 miles north of New York City. So used from about 1890 on, it was broadened to apply to any prison by the early 1900s.

Example Sentences

“Why, this might be an up-the-river jaunt,” said Denham, as the appetising daintiness of each article of food revealed itself.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• confinement
• jail
• lockup
• penitentiary