noun
being swept away by a river current
Describes the event of a person or object being carried downstream. Often used in the proverb 河童の川流れ (even a kappa can drown in a river).
大雨で川流れにあった人が救助された。
A person who was swept away by the river in the heavy rain was rescued.
noun
drowning in a river; person who drowned in a river
Can refer to the act of drowning in a river or to a victim of such an accident. Often used in news reports.
今年の夏は川流れの事故が多発している。
There have been many drowning accidents in rivers this summer.
noun
cancellation; standing someone up; breaking a promise
Slang or colloquial use, often in the context of plans being canceled or someone being stood up. The image is of plans 'flowing away' like something carried off by a river.
デートが川流れになった。
The date got canceled (fell through).