Definitions for up the creek
up the creek

WiktionaryRate this definition:5.0 / 1 vote

1. up the creekadjective

   In trouble; in a difficult situation.

2. Etymology: This phrase may have come from Haslar Creek in Portsmouth harbour, a 'salt' creek (may be origin of alternative 'up a shit creek'). Wounded sailors during Nelson's time, were taken there to be admitted to the Royal Naval Hospital Haslar to die or recover. The ship's moored up in the Solent and the wounded soldiers were transported up Haslar creek by tramline hence 'Up the creek without a paddle'. They were held prisoner so that they would not desert while being treated, and some tried to escape by going through the sewers to the creek (another suggested origin of the alternative 'up a shit creek'). Without a paddle this would be hopeless, hence the phrase 'up the creek (without a paddle)' to mean being trapped, stuck or in trouble. Much very obscure navy related jargon entered popular culture in the seafaring peoples of the British Isles, and thus entered the English language as a whole.

WikidataRate this definition:5.0 / 1 vote

1. Up the Creek

   Up the Creek is a 1984 comedy film, directed by Robert Butler. Although the film itself was not as popular as other "college romp" films, the four lead parts all came to the film with experience in popular comedies, most notably Animal House and Porky's.

How to pronounce up the creek?

1. Alex

   US English

   David

   US English

   Mark

   US English

   Daniel

   British

   Libby

   British

   Mia

   British

   Karen

   Australian

   Hayley

   Australian

   Natasha

   Australian

   Veena

   Indian

   Priya

   Indian

   Neerja

   Indian

   Zira

   US English

   Oliver

   British

   Wendy

   British

   Fred

   US English

   Tessa

   South African

How to say up the creek in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of up the creek in Chaldean Numerology is: 9

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of up the creek in Pythagorean Numerology is: 4

Examples of up the creek in a Sentence

1. Arliss Reed:

   We had pics of this buck in one area over the summer, then in the fall, nearly two miles away, I found about 40 rubs in a 200-yard stretch of creek-bottom willows. I set up a Double Bull blind, and the first evening I saw a pair of bucks, one that I’d have shot but he wasn’t in range. The next sit this guy came in. He’s an 11-point that grosses 168-6/8, and has a 13-inch G3. When I walked up to him, I realized I knew him from those summer pics.

2. Dan Levy:

   Some people have been asking [if there will be a Schitts Creek movie], this is the best way we could have ever ended this show, so, if there is an idea that ever pops into my head [thats] worthy of these wonderful people, it has to be really freaking good at this point because this is a really nice way of saying goodbye.

3. Jason Jensen:

   He writes this farcical tale about her falling down and getting injured while crossing Spread Creek, and describes how he couldn't leave her behind.

4. Andrew Whelton:

   Because of their size, they don’t go in the air as easily, they like to stick to soils and other materials. The question is, how contaminated is the creek and what will they do to remediate that?

5. Todd Crutcher:

   The short-term resolution will come as water flushes through the system and the creek clears.

References

1. ^ Wiktionary
   https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Up_the_Creek
2. ^ Wikidata
   https://www.wikidata.org/w/index.php?search=up the creek