The phrase "sending up the river" is a commonly used idiom, meaning to send someone to prison. The spelling is straightforward, with each word pronounced as it appears. However, the use of the phrase itself can be traced back to its origins in New York City, where it referred to the practice of sending prisoners up the Hudson River to serve their sentences at the infamous Sing Sing prison. In IPA phonetic transcription, the phrase is pronounced /ˈsɛndɪŋ ʌp ðə ˈrɪvər/.
Sending up the river is a colloquial phrase that originated in prison culture and has gained broader usage in general conversation. It refers to the act of sending someone to prison or incarceration, particularly for a lengthy period of time. The phrase derives its origin from the practice of transporting prisoners by river to penitentiaries located in remote areas.
In a literal sense, sending up the river involves the physical relocation of an individual from their current location to a prison facility, often situated up a river from major urban centers. Figuratively, the phrase has become synonymous with punishment and confinement, particularly in the context of criminal justice.
The concept of sending up the river carries connotations of removal, isolation, and loss of freedom. It implies a severe sentence or punishment, suggesting that the person being sent up the river is being permanently separated from society for a significant duration.
The phrase can also be extended to metaphorical situations outside the criminal justice system. For instance, it may be used to describe a person being separated from a desired situation or removed from a position of power or influence. In this sense, sending up the river implies a loss of status, control, or opportunity.
Overall, sending up the river is a vivid and impactful term that encompasses the act of sending someone to prison, denoting a significant and enduring form of punishment or restriction.