to go to school/college/university (British English) I have to go to hospital for an operation. (North American English) I have to go to the hospital. (British English) to go to the cinema (North American English) to go to the movies to go to prison/jail (= to be sent there as ...
A jail. [Spanishjuzgado,tribunal, courtroom, from past participle ofjuzgar,to judge, from Latiniūdicāre, fromiūdex, iūdic-,judge; seejudge.] Our Living LanguageHoosegowis an old slang synonym forjailwith a flavor of the American West:They threw him in the hoosegow for being drunk and ...