# over the river and through the woods

> English word · Prep_phrase · IPA /ˈoʊ.vɚ ðə ˈɹɪvɚ ən(d)θɹu ðə wʊdz/

## Definitions
1. Trying to achieve a particular task, often with difficulty.
2. Lost.
3. Having lost one's mind; insane.
4. Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see over, the, river, and, through, the, woods.

## Etymology
Originally based on a Thanksgiving poem written by Lydia Maria Child, this phrase was eventually turned into one of the many various Christmas carols and then soon developed its own meaning in the English lexicon. See the Wikipedia article for more information.

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/over-the-river-and-through-the-woods