creek

(the good) Lord willing and the creek don't rise

rural If all goes as it should; if everything goes well. We've had a lot of delays, but Lord willing and the creek don't rise, we should have the house finished before winter. A: "Do you reckon we'll have enough from this harvest to make ends meet?" B: "The good Lord willing and the creek don't rise."

See also: and, creek, lord, rise, willing

up shit's creek (without a paddle)

rude slang In a challenging or daunting situation. I'm a single mother who just lost her job—I'm really up shit's creek right now. A: "I just found out that the school told my parents that I'm failing French." B: "Oh man, you're up shit's creek without a paddle."

See also: creek, up

God willing and the creek don't rise

and Lord willing and the creek don't rise

Rur. If all goes well. Tom: Will you be able to get the house painted before the cold weather sets in? Jane: Yes, God willing and the creek don't rise. We'll be able to visit our daughter for Christmas, Lord willing and the creek don't rise.

See also: and, creek, god, rise, willing

up the creek (without a paddle)

and up a creek; up shit creek

Inf. Fig. in an awkward position with no easy way out. I'm sort of up the creek and don't know what to do. You are up a creek! You got yourself into it, so get yourself out.

See also: creek, up

up the creek (without a paddle)

also up a creek

in an extremely difficult situation All those people who have money invested in it are going to be up the creek.

Etymology: based on the idea of being in a small boat in a stream and not having a paddle (short pole with a wide, flat part) with which to move it

See also: creek, up

be up the creek (without a paddle)

(informal) also be up shit creek (without a paddle) (very informal!)

to be in a very difficult situation that you are not able to improve If the car breaks down we're really up the creek. He'll be up shit creek unless he finds the money to pay off his loan.

See also: creek, up

up a creek

Also, up shit creek; up the creek (without a paddle). In trouble, in a serious predicament, as in If the check doesn't arrive today I'm up a creek, or The car wouldn't start, so I was up the creek without a paddle. This slangy idiom conjures up the image of a stranded canoeist with no way of moving (paddling) the canoe. President Harry S. Truman used the first term in a letter in 1918. The first variant is considered vulgar.

See also: creek, up

up the creek

Also, up shit creek. See up a creek.

See also: creek, up

God willing and the creek don’t rise

and GWATCDR

phr. & comp. abb. If we are lucky. I’ll be there, GWATCDR.

See also: and, creek, god, rise, willing

up shit creek (without a paddle)

and up the creek (without a paddle) and up a creek

mod. in an awkward position with no easy way out. (Usually objectionable.) There I was, at Disney World with only a measly $47.54. I was literally up the creek without a paddle. You are up a creek! You got yourself into it, so get yourself out.

See also: creek, paddle, shit, up, without