up shit creek

English

Alternative forms

• up shit creek without a paddle

Prepositional phrase

up shit creek

1. (vulgar) In trouble; in a difficult situation.

Usage notes

• The addition of "without a paddle" in alternative forms is considered by some to suggest an intensification of the difficulty of the situation.
• Variant: "up shit creek in a barbed wire canoe without a paddle".

Synonyms

• up the creek
• between a rock and a hard place
• up the proverbial
• up to the hub