up the river

phrase

: to or in prison
was sent up the river

Examples of up the river in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Some visitors to Zion National Park wander up the paved, wheelchair-friendly Riverside Walk and peer into the iconic canyon, while others hike the rocky river bottom itself, wading up the river. Evie Carrick, Travel + Leisure, 28 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Up the river.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/up%20the%20river. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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