By the book idiom meaning up a creek

If any more people quit, well really be up the creek. Up the creek without a paddle idioms and phrases, english. Synonyms for up the creek at with free online thesaurus, antonyms, and definitions. The companys recent collapse has left their pension fund members up the creek. In trouble, in a serious predicament, as in if the check doesnt arrive today im up a creek, or the car wouldnt start, so i was up the creek without a paddle.

Definition of be up the creek in the idioms dictionary. By the book meaning in the cambridge english dictionary. You can also use the full expression, up the creek without a paddle. Up a creek up shit creek meaning of idiom up the creek without a paddle to be up the creek means to be in trouble, in a serious. To be up the creek means to be in a prickly predicament with no means of alleviating the problem. December 1994 more colorful texas sayings than you can shake a stick at. The phrase by the book is an english idiom, or saying, that means to do something in the correct or proper manner. Up the creek meaning in the cambridge english dictionary.

If any more people resign, well be really up the creek. This slangy idiom conjures up the image of a stranded canoeist with no way of moving paddling the canoe. Up the creek and up a creek idiom definition grammarist. Learn about idioms trouble in episode 87 of the flatmates our interactive soap for intermediate. Urban dictionary and our advertising partners set cookies on your computer to improve our site and the advertisements you see. These rules may be written in an actual book, but they may also be societal norms that are widely accepted, even if not written. To do something by the book is to follow the set rules and guidelines and carry something out using the typical, accepted methods.

Another iteration of the phrase involves a slang scatological word. Williams is the author of up a creek and behind the bedroom wall, which was named a jane addams peace award honor book. Bbc world service learning english the flatmates language. A shortened version of up a creek without a paddle.

Often shortened to be up the creek, this expression is recorded in the mid 20th century as military slang for lost for example, while on a patrol. This idiom comes from the visual of being in a rowboat and losing one of your paddles. To fold down a corner of a page to mark a place in a book, or something from paper. This idiom is similar in meaning to to be in hot water. It is thought that this saying originally referred to the christian bible, though its current meaning simply refers to any written or implied set of rules governing the activity a.

The full idiom is up the creek without a paddle, though it is often shortened to simply up the creek. A selection of idioms and their meaning, for students and english language. Up a creek definition at, a free online dictionary with pronunciation, synonyms and translation. The list of idioms and expressions below is by no means complete, and, indeed, as the. Manufacturing really is up the creek without a paddle. Up the creek definition and meaning collins english dictionary. Up a creek without a paddle means you are in deep trouble and there is nothing you can do about it. More colorful texas sayings than you can shake a stick at. The phrase has now lost all connection with its rhyming slang origin. Meanings and origins of australian words and idioms anu school.

An expression describing something as not lined up or arranged correctly. Book up definition, a handwritten or printed work of fiction or nonfiction, usually on sheets of paper fastened or bound together within covers. The name of the barcoo river in western queensland has been used since the 1870s as a. Shes up a creek without a paddle, now that her best friend is no longer in charge. The economys up shit creek and everyones unemployed.