What does sent up the river mean?

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.

What is the origin of the phrase sent up the river?

“Sent up the river” comes from New York City's criminal subculture; “up the river” referred to the state prisons like Sing Sing that are up the Hudson River from NYC. “Sold down the river” is from the Mississippi river valley prior to the Civil War.

What does sent down the river mean?

The Answer Isn't Pretty : Code Switch Being "sold down the river" means you've been betrayed. It used to mean something far worse. NPR's Code Switch traces the history of the phrase and spells out its original meaning in the first half of the 19th century.

What does sail up the river mean?

sail up the/a/(some) river

To travel in a boat, especially a sailboat, upstream through a river. I managed to sail up the river by constantly adjusting my position in relation to the current and the wind. The navy vessels sailed up the River Thames as part of the Remembrance Day festivities. See also: river, sail, up.

What is down the river or up the river?

Something that is moving down-river is moving towards the mouth of a river, from a point further up the river. Something that is down-river is towards the mouth of a river.

Up the river Meaning

Do you troll up river or down river?

For all those reasons, trolling downstream is the best way to get at them. By going downhill, you can crank up the trolling speed -- which allows you to cover more water and, thus, find the fish more quickly.

Should you follow a river up or downstream?

As a very last resort, follow a drainage or stream downhill. This is often a difficult path but could lead to a trail or road.

How do you sail up a river?

To go upstream, the bows are just pointed directly upstream and the sail let out to "run before the wind." On this point of sail, the boat can go quite fast. In a 5 mph wind, the boat can get close to the 5 mph maximum. Since typical currents will be less than 1 mph, the boat can easily beat the current.

How did people sail up river?

To move upriver, men or draught animals on towpaths were used to haul the boats on long ropes. In shallow waters boats could also be propelled upstream by long poles. Where towing from a towpath on the riverbank was not possible, a method known as warping was used.

What does sailing down the river mean?

: in the same direction as the river is flowing. Large boats came down the river.

Who was sent down the river in the Bible?

The Brick Bible for Kids

Jochebed, an Israelite slave, had a baby boy named Moses. In order to save her son, she placed him in a basket and set him floating down the Nile River, with his older sister, Miriam, watching over him.

Why did Moses get sent down the river?

After Pharaoh had ordered all the first-born male babies to be killed, one woman, Jochebed, looked desperately for a way to save her new-born son. She hid him in a basket made of reeds and left him on the river bed, knowing that the Pharaoh's daughter came to bathe there.

What do rivers in the Bible mean?

God's life that comes to us like a river isn't a tiny, trickling stream but more like a powerful, rushing river. In the book of Revelation, the river runs from God's very throne, from God's presence (Rev. 22:1-2; also Ezek. 47:1-12). The river of life in Revelation represents God's life-giving presence.

What does cry up a river mean?

(idiomatic, often sarcastic) To weep profusely or excessively in the presence of another person. quotations ▼

What is the word for when a river meets the sea?

Estuaries: Where the River Meets the Sea. Estuaries. Where freshwater rivers meet the salty open sea. There is a lot to love in an estuary.

What is the proverb about crossing the river?

Definition. Crossing the river by touching the stones means "to take one step and look around before taking another". It is a programmatic attitude toward China's reform and opening up. China's leaders often cite this popular metaphor to describe the path they have followed in economic reform.

How did Vikings sail up river?

The ships were powered by oars or by the wind, and had one large, square sail, most probably made from wool. Leather strips criss-crossed the wool to keep its shape when it was wet. Viking ships also had oars. A steering oar or 'steerboard' was used to steer the ships.

How did sailors keep water fresh?

The earliest European sailors used barrels laced with alcohol to keep algae from growing. Whenever a ship reached land, replenishing its fresh water was usually the most important task. By the 1700s, inventors had created distillation plants that used a heat source to boil seawater.

Which side of the river do you sail on?

Stay on the right side of the river. Be aware of what is behind you, as well as in front of you. Stick to channels where there is clear marking. Stray away from weirs and be mindful of warning signs.

Is it possible to sail up the Mississippi River?

You can sail upstream through the locks and dams of the Upper Mississippi River , to Lock No. 1 in Minneapolis, through it, and then another 4 miles upstream, until you reach the Upper Saint Anthony Falls Lock and Dam.

How hard is it to sail upstream?

Sailing upriver is difficult but possible. A sailing ship cannot sail directly into the wind. A fore-and-aft rig might be able to get 4 points (45deg) from the wind, but that's about it. Most rivers wind around, so if you hit a stretch where the wind and river line up, you'll be tack upon tack every few minutes.

What direction should you go if you are lost?

A new study in Psychological Science reveals the easiest way to reorient yourself and find your way is to face north and visualize the map. When it comes to understanding environments, our brains refer back to what they know. Western maps are always oriented toward the north so our spatial memory does the same thing.

What to do if you get lost?

Why do I always head north?

Despite what many people believe, the answer actually has nothing to do with safety. The real answer is because going north may actually provide a shorter route. This is called Great Circle Navigation. Because of the curvature of the Earth, the shortest route between two locations may appear much longer on a flat map.