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up the creek. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
up the creek, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
up the creek in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
up the creek you have here. The definition of the word
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English
Etymology
American English.
Pronunciation
Prepositional phrase
up the creek
- (idiomatic) In trouble; in a difficult situation.
- Synonyms: see Thesaurus:difficult situation
We'll be up the creek if we lose those files, so we should back them up regularly.
1925, John Dos Passos, Manhattan Transfer, New York, N.Y., London: Harper & Brothers, →OCLC, 3rd section, page 306:“Then we would be up the creek. You can be extradited for grand larceny. Jez you wouldnt have me goin round with dark glasses and false whiskers all my life.”
Usage notes
- The addition of "without a paddle" in alternative forms is considered by some to suggest an intensification of the difficulty of the situation.
Synonyms
Translations
Further reading