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Sun 94 Posted 15 years ago
Vocabulary

Up a creek

What is the exact meaning of ' up a creek'? Can I use it informal and formal settings? For example,

( teacher to student)

You forgot your homework again. If you forget it again, you will be up a creek.

( A to coworker)

I could not finish the project. I am up a creek. And my teammates are up a creek too.
  

Top answer

Yes, it is casual. You have the meaning: in big difficulty. '

— Mister Micawber

  • Yes, it is casual.
  • You have the meaning: in big difficulty.
  • '
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4 Answers
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Yes, it is casual. You have the meaning: in big difficulty. You can emphasize it by adding 'without a paddle': I'm up a/the creek without a paddle!'
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"Up the creek" is a shortened version of "to be up the creek without a paddle", which basically means to be in a difficult or troubling situation. Picture the speaker in a canoe on a river with no way to maneuver. Another (profane) way this phrase is often altered is "to be up s**t creek".

I wouldn't say that either of your uses is wrong, but I wouldn't typically employ the phrase as a
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Then, do my two exmaple sentence make sense?
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(teacher to student) You forgot your homework again. If you forget it again, you will be up a creek.
(A to coworker) I couldn't finish the project. I am up a creek. And my teammates are up a creek too.

These? Yes.
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