up the creek
In serious trouble
Up the creek means in serious trouble or difficulty, with no easy way out.
The full expression is up the creek without a paddle, emphasizing helplessness—stranded in a bad situation with no means of escape.
Often intensified as up shit creek, making the predicament both vulgar and vivid: If we miss this deadline, we're up the creek.
- hot waterHeated liquid, or trouble
- in deep waterFacing serious difficulty
- strandedLeft without means to leave
- bindFasten or obligate
- lostUnable to navigate
adrift · dead in the water · caught short · helpless · marooned · tight spot · pickle · jam · frustrated · trapped · between a rock and a hard place · hopeless · paddle · defeated · stuck · out of luck · in dire straits · up a tree
- hardshipshardship, adversity, struggle, misfortune, difficulties
- predicamentspredicament, dilemma, bind, pickle, pinch
- Troublesproblem, trouble, issue, setback, snag
up the creeksitting pretty
In favorable circumstances
in the clear · home free · in clover · in good shape · in the driver's seat
up the creekwell-equipped
Having adequate supplies
covered · all set · good to go · taken care of · sorted out
upper, creek, update, uplift, upgrade, uptown, upped, uptake, creekside