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Up shit creek without a paddle

Up shit creek without a paddle

Meaning

In serious difficulty, with no hope of respite.

Examples

We were halfway across the Australian outback when we realised our water bottle had leaked. We really were up shit creek.

Where did it originate?

USA, 1890s. Note: Shit creek isn’t a real place.

Where is it used?

Worldwide.

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About the Author

Gary Martin is a writer and researcher on the origins of phrases and the creator of the Phrase Finder website. Over the past 26 years more than 700 million of his pages have been downloaded by readers. He is one of the most popular and trusted sources of information on phrases and idioms.

Gary Martin

Writer and researcher on the origins of phrases and the creator of the Phrase Finder website. Over the past 26 years more than 700 million of his pages have been downloaded by readers. He is one of the most popular and trusted sources of information on phrases and idioms.
Up shit creek without a paddle

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