Sold down the river

Definitions

• betrayal
  To be betrayed or deceived, especially by someone trusted, often resulting in a feeling of disappointment or loss

• disappointment
  To be let down or disappointed by someone or something, often due to unfulfilled promises or expectations

Examples of Sold down the river

• The company's new executive decided to shift all the production to a cheaper location without consulting the workers or unions, leaving them high and dry with no jobs. This is often called "selling the workers down the river."

  This is an idiomatic expression that literally means "shipping goods down the Ohio or Mississippi Rivers to be sold in New Orleans." In a figurative sense, it means betraying or abandoning someone or a group in a way that causes them great harm or loss, typically for personal gain or benefit. In the example, the executive's decision to move the production without consulting the workers or unions can be seen as a betrayal, leaving them out in the cold with no job prospects.

• The politician's actions were heavily criticized, and many suspected that he had been "sold out" by his own party, who had promised him their support but then turned on him in a sudden reversal of fortunes.

  This idiom suggests a disappointing or disloyal action by someone who had previously appeared to be reliable or supportive. "Sold out" in this context means betrayed, possibly because the politician had revealed a secret or compromising information, which his own party then used to turn against him.

• The journalist's story was leaked to the competition, and her boss was furious, accusing her of selling the newspaper down the river.

  "Sold down the river" can also be used to indicate that someone has damaged or ruined the reputation or effectiveness of their own organization or team by disclosing sensitive information or betraying their colleagues' trust. In this example, the journalist's action, in effect, passed the newspaper's story to their competitor, making it automatically weaker with less impact.

• The accused was finally found guilty in a shocking twist of fate, leaving his lawyers in disbelief, accusing the judge of selling him down the river.

  This idiom can sometimes be subjective, with people accusing others of betraying them when they feel that justice hasn't been served correctly. In this example, the accused's lawyers believe that the judge acted unfairly by failing to take into account some critical evidence that could have cleared their client's name. "Selling him down the river" here suggests that the judge failed to protect the accused's rights or act impartially, leaving him in dire straits.

• John's business partner betrayed him by selling their company to the competition without consulting him. John felt like he had been sold down the river.

  The idiom "sold down the river" refers to being betrayed or deceived, often resulting in negative consequences. The phrase is believed to originated from the practice of selling slaves downriver to be taken to the Deep South, where conditions were harsher and treatment was worse. In this example, John's partner betrayed him by selling their company to the competition, leaving John with no say in the matter and potentially damaging the future success of the business. John feels like he has been betrayed and left in a worse position, much like a slave being taken southward.

• The company's new executive sold out the loyal employees to the competition, leaving them high and dry.

  In this example, "sold down the river" is being used figuratively to describe the betrayal of the loyal employees by the new executive. The phrase originated from the era of slavery in the United States, where slaves would be transported downriver to be sold to plantation owners further downstream. To "sell someone down the river" nowadays implies that a person has been betrayed and abandoned by someone else.

• The whistleblower's accusations sold him down the river, and he ended up getting fired from his job and blacklisted from his industry.

  In this example, "sold down the river" is used to describe the negative consequences that ensued after the whistleblower revealed information about wrongdoing. The person who spoke out was essentially abandoned and left to fend for themselves, much like a slave being transported downriver with no guarantee of a better life. The phrase can also be used to describe situations where someone winds up in a more unfavorable position than they were before.

• The politician's opponent sold them down the river during the debate, leaving them flustered and unable to defend their position.

  In this example, "sold down the river" refers to the surprise attack that the opponent launched during the debate, leaving the politician unprepared and struggling to respond. The phrase can also be used to describe situations where someone is caught off guard or overwhelmed by unexpected events.

Conclusion

The idiom "sold down the river" is commonly used to express feelings of betrayal or disappointment. It can be used in various situations where someone feels let down or deceived by another person or a situation. The phrase is often used to convey a sense of loss and disillusionment.

Origin of "Sold down the river"

The origin of the idiom "sold down the river" can be traced back to the time of slavery in the United States. During this dark period of history, slaves were often sold or traded down the Mississippi River to plantations in the South, where conditions were harsher and the likelihood of escape was lower. This practice was seen as a betrayal by the slaves, as they were taken away from familiar surroundings and often separated from their families.

Over time, the phrase "sold down the river" evolved to represent any situation where someone feels betrayed or let down. It has become a powerful and widely-used idiom in the English language, capturing the deep emotion of betrayal and disappointment.