sell down the river, to 📜
sell down the river, to: To betray. This term arose in the mid-nineteenth-century United States and referred to selling slaves down the Mississippi River, where they would almost certainly be worked to death in the cotton fields. The term was used in its literal sense by Harriet Beecher Stowe in her best-selling novel Uncle Tom’s Cabin, but by the late nineteenth century, it was being used figuratively. P. G. Wodehouse used it in Small Bachelor (1927): “When Sigisbee Waddington married for the second time, he to all intents and purposes sold himself down the river.”
Related and Similar Terms:
- Backstab: To betray someone critically and disloyalty, often in a cowardly manner.
- Double-cross: To deceive or betray someone with whom one was ostensibly cooperating.
- Rat out: To inform on someone; to betray someone by informing the authorities or others.
- Two-faced: Pretending to have different opinions to different people about something, or being hypocritical.
Famous Quotes and Proverbs:
- “Oh what a tangled web we weave, when first we practice to deceive." — Sir Walter Scott
- “Et tu, Brute?” — William Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar
References in Literature, Books, Songs, Poetry, and Movies:
- Uncle Tom’s Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe
- Small Bachelor by P. G. Wodehouse
- Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare (for identifying acts of betrayal)
- Song: “Backstabbers” by The O’Jays
- Movie: The Godfather (1972) directed by Francis Ford Coppola
Intriguing and Engaging Quizzes:
### What is the meaning of "selling down the river"?
- [x] To betray someone
- [ ] To market products aggressively
- [ ] To literally sell goods along the river
- [ ] To suggest a scenic boat trip
> **Explanation:** "Selling down the river" means to betray someone. This expression has a grim historical context referencing the betrayal involved in the slave trade.
### Which of these actions could be considered a form of betrayal or "selling down the river"?
- [x] Revealing a friend's secret to others
- [ ] Helping a friend move houses
- [ ] Buying groceries for a neighbor
- [ ] Walking your dog
> **Explanation:** Revealing a friend's secret to others is a clear act of betrayal, and could be likened to "selling down the river."
### True or False: The expression "selling down the river" has remained unchanged since its literal origin in the context of slavery.
- [ ] True
- [x] False
> **Explanation:** Originally a literal term referring to the sale of slaves down the Mississippi River, it later evolved into a figurative expression for betrayal.
### Which of the following authors referenced the term "selling down the river" in their work?
- [ ] J.K. Rowling
- [ ] George Orwell
- [ ] J.R.R. Tolkien
- [x] P.G. Wodehouse
> **Explanation:** P.G. Wodehouse referenced the term in "Small Bachelor." The other authors mentioned did not use this specific expression in their works.
### In which book does the term "selling down the river" appear in its literal sense?
- [ ] Pride and Prejudice
- [x] Uncle Tom's Cabin
- [ ] Moby-Dick
- [ ] The Great Gatsby
> **Explanation:** The term appears in its literal sense in Harriet Beecher Stowe's *Uncle Tom’s Cabin*.
Farewell and remember: Let trust and loyalty guide your path. 📝 Navigating life and language thoughtfully brings meaning to every corner of our expressions.
