Creek是溪流，以前這個習慣用語是up the creek without a paddle。 Paddle是槳，可以想象如果有人乘小船逆流而上手頭卻沒有槳，處境該有多難。使用這個習慣用語的人很快就省略了without a paddle，只是說up the creek來表達同樣的意思。我們看個例子來體會它的含義吧。這是個小伙子在說他跟女朋友Mary的關系陷于僵局。
I'm sure up the creek with Mary. I took this new girl in the office out to dinner just to get acquainted. And Mary happened to see us. Now she won't even answer my calls. 他帶辦公室新來的女孩出去吃飯，其實只想彼此熟悉一下，但是讓Mary撞見,這可惹出麻煩來了，現(xiàn)在Mary連他的電話都不肯接。
所以他說: I’m sure up the creek with Mary，意思是我和Mary真是處于僵局。Up the creek意思是處于僵局的，或者陷于困境的。
我們再看個例子。這回說話的是個自討苦吃的大學生。他一心貪玩，學習松懈，成績直線下降，以致保不住減免學費的獎學金了。我們看看他的尷尬處境
I sure had a good time last semester - I didn't have much time to study. But now I'm up the creek; I certainly don't have the tuition money and I hate to ask dad to pay it. 我上學期玩兒得可真痛快，簡直沒時間念書了。 但是現(xiàn)在我可進退兩難了：我自己當然沒錢交學費，而我實在不愿意向爸爸開口要。
這里的up the creek用來描繪進退兩難的困境。
I'm sure up the creek with Mary. I took this new girl in the office out to dinner just to get acquainted. And Mary happened to see us. Now she won't even answer my calls. 他帶辦公室新來的女孩出去吃飯，其實只想彼此熟悉一下，但是讓Mary撞見,這可惹出麻煩來了，現(xiàn)在Mary連他的電話都不肯接。
所以他說: I’m sure up the creek with Mary，意思是我和Mary真是處于僵局。Up the creek意思是處于僵局的，或者陷于困境的。
我們再看個例子。這回說話的是個自討苦吃的大學生。他一心貪玩，學習松懈，成績直線下降，以致保不住減免學費的獎學金了。我們看看他的尷尬處境
I sure had a good time last semester - I didn't have much time to study. But now I'm up the creek; I certainly don't have the tuition money and I hate to ask dad to pay it. 我上學期玩兒得可真痛快，簡直沒時間念書了。 但是現(xiàn)在我可進退兩難了：我自己當然沒錢交學費，而我實在不愿意向爸爸開口要。
這里的up the creek用來描繪進退兩難的困境。