NY Times Crossword
August 5, 2015
Patrick Berry (#1-3)

The answers to the clues below are related. What's the connection?

1. "I merely paddled my canoe against the current, and now I'm ________!"
2. "I merely went to my yoga class, and now I'm ________!
3. "I merely bought a mansion, and now I'm ________!"
4. "I merely used my miter saw, and now I'm ________!"
5. "I merely did some professional wrestling, and now I'm ________!"
6. "I merely opened a watch and clock shop, and now I'm ________!"

Answers:

and now I'm ________

1. up the river
2. doing a stretch
3. in the big house
4. in the joint
5. in the slammer 
6. doing time - - - all expressions meaning "in prison"