Up the Creek Without a Paddle.
English
idiom
In a difficult situation with no way out.
Trusted by1M+English learners & teachers worldwide
In a difficult situation with no way out.
Trusted by1M+English learners & teachers worldwide
In real trouble, with no clear way out.
When you're up the creek without a paddle, you're stuck and the usual escape routes are gone.
It suggests being alone and in deep trouble.
"In a Pickle"
—
In a difficult or awkward situation — less severe than being up the creek
"Between a Rock and a Hard Place"
—
Facing two equally bad options — not the same as having no way out at all
"Up the Creek Without a Paddle"
—
In serious trouble with no clear or available way out
If the server goes down tonight, we're up the creek without a paddle — there's no backup.
I'll set one up right now.
What happened when the car broke down?
Up the creek without a paddle — middle of nowhere, no signal at all.
What if the deal falls through?
We're up the creek without a paddle. We need a plan B immediately.
