up the creek

English - Turkish

Definition of up the creek in English Turkish dictionary

(Konuşma Dili) zor durumda

berbat

kelek

boktan

{k} (deyim) tumuyle yanlis

English - English

Definition of up the creek in English English dictionary

In trouble; in a difficult situation

We'll be up the creek if we lose those files, so we should back them up regularly.

Related Terms

up a creek

Alternative form of up the creek

Hyphenation

up the Creek

Turkish pronunciation

ʌp dhi krik

Synonyms

up shit creek

Pronunciation

/ˈəp ᴛʜē ˈkrēk/ /ˈʌp ðiː ˈkriːk/

Etymology

[ '&p ] (adverb.) before 12th century. 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. 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.