up the creek

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English

Alternative forms

Etymology

American English.

Pronunciation

Prepositional phrase

up the creek

  1. (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