down the river
idiom
: in the same direction as the river is flowing
Large boats came down the river.
Examples of down the river in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Community ‘heartbroken’ over sewage spill Philip Gray used to enjoy paddling down the river in a canoe or floating in an inner tube, beer in hand, toward his home in Cabin John.
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N'dea Yancey-Bragg, USA Today, 18 Feb. 2026
But a federal government that would impose such draconian measures without spreading the pain up and down the river would be unreasonable, Burman said.
—Brandon Loomis, AZCentral.com, 3 Feb. 2026
Water from that storm is still flowing down the river, which empties into the ocean.
—Gary Robbins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Jan. 2026
Popular activities include scenic drives, crossing the Rio Grande into Mexico, hiking to hot springs, and floating down the river.
—Carrie Dennis, Travel + Leisure, 4 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for down the river
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N'dea Yancey-Bragg, USA Today, 18 Feb. 2026
But a federal government that would impose such draconian measures without spreading the pain up and down the river would be unreasonable, Burman said.
—Brandon Loomis, AZCentral.com, 3 Feb. 2026
Water from that storm is still flowing down the river, which empties into the ocean.
—Gary Robbins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Jan. 2026
Popular activities include scenic drives, crossing the Rio Grande into Mexico, hiking to hot springs, and floating down the river.
—Carrie Dennis, Travel + Leisure, 4 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for down the river
Cite this Entry
“Down the river.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/down%20the%20river. Accessed 22 Feb. 2026.
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