sell down the river

Definitions

To betray, especially in a manner which causes serious difficulty for the one betrayed.

idiomatic, transitive

Examples

“[T]he Prime Minister was listened to with respect⟳ when he replied to Opposition hints that Ethiopia was being sold down the river because Britain was afraid she or her ships might suddenly be attacked by Italian airmen.”

“Somebody told me, I know⟳ where to go Somebody showed me, I was last⟳ to know⟳ Sell⟳ me down the river Sell⟳ me down the river Sell⟳ me down the river Sell⟳ me down the river What I wanted is what we wanted What we wanted is what she wanted”

“"But screw it, this bastard is selling America down the river. He's a traitor."”

“As a result⟳, analysts were routinely selling investors down the river by promoting stocks purely to land⟳ banking business from companies.”

CEFR level