Phrase

Posted by Bob on November 09, 2001

In Reply to: Phrase posted by Audrey Taylor on November 09, 2001

: Is "up the creek" the same as "up the river"?

: Could you send reply to my e-mail address and I will check back here if I can

Not exactly. While some people may use "up the river" to be synonymous with "up the creek" ... that is to say, "in difficulty" ... another common use (in the US, anyway) of "up the river" is "off to prison." (I thought, but I have no evidence to prove it, that sending someone "up the river" came from the relationship of New York and Sing Sing prison.)

• Up a creek/river R. Berg 11/09/01
  • Up a creek/river & Down the river James Briggs 11/10/01