ENGLISH
REFERENCE

pass the river

idiom
Meaning

To die.


Origin

disputed origin

Allusion to the crossing of the river Styx, the boundary between life and Hades, in Classical Greek mythology.

Examples
SIMPLE

The old man finally passed the river last night.

CONTEXTUAL

After a long and difficult illness, the grandmother peacefully passed the river surrounded by her family.

COMPLEX

The poet wrote movingly about the quiet moment when a soul must leave this world and pass the river.

Anchors to
Related idioms8entries
  1. 01

    come to pass

    To happen; to occur.

  2. 02

    cry someone a river

    To weep profusely or excessively in the presence of another person.

  3. 03

    hard pass

    An unequivocal rejection with no possibility of a later change of mind.

  4. 04

    let this cup pass from me

    An appeal to God or another authority to take away one's present or future suffering.

  5. 05

    pass away

    To die.

  6. 06

    pass muster

    To meet or exceed a particular standard.

  7. 07

    pass on

    To die.

  8. 08

    pass the bottle of smoke

    To acquiesce in some falsehood; to make pretence.

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