Lord willing and the creek don't rise

English

Alternative forms

• Variants substitute "God" or "Good Lord" (with or without "the") for "Lord", and substitute "crick" or "river" for "creek", or capitalize it as "Creek" or "Creeks" based on confusion with the Creek Indian tribe.

Etymology

Statements of the form "God/Lord willing and (some other condition being met)" are ancient extensions of simple acceptance of God's will in phrases like God willing and Lord willing. "Creek" originated as a reference to creeks flooding and preventing travel, but is sometimes re-interpreted as a reference to the Creek tribe.

Pronunciation

• Audio (AU)

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Phrase

Lord willing and the creek don't rise

1. (idiomatic, US, informal) Barring unforeseen circumstances.

   Lord willing and the creek don't rise, we'll have that new barn finished in time for the harvest.

Synonyms

• (barring unforeseen circumstances): God willing, Lord willing

Translations

phrase

• Dutch: ijs en weder dienende, bij leven en welzijn
• Finnish: jos Luoja suo
• Polish: jak Bóg pozwoli

References

• Merriam Webster Word to the Wise (audio)