up a tree

Examples

• All

• So then your kid's up a tree.

  The Secret Life of Pets 2 (2019)

• I've got it up a tree again.

  The Adventures of Mark Twain (1985)

• "Up a tree."

  Blog text (22)

• Looks Iike you got yourseIf up a tree a IittIe bit.

  Fried Green Tomatoes (1991)

• I found myself up a tree when I realized I had forgotten my wallet at home.

• After the unexpected storm, we were up a tree without any way to reach the campsite.

• When the deadline was moved up, she felt up a tree with all the extra work to complete.

Synonyms

O

on the ropes

vsup a tree

• Informal

15 7.7

Very close to failure or defeat with little chance to recover

is broader, covering helplessness or puzzlement not only imminent collapse

I

in the lurch

vsup a tree

• Informal

8 8.2

Left without help at an important time

is more about feeling helpless or puzzled rather than being abandoned

U

up the river

vsup a tree

• Informal

6 8.5

In trouble and not able to fix the situation

is focused on helpless or perplexed states rather than mere problems

U

up the creek

vsup a tree

• Informal

3 9.4

In a difficult situation with no easy way out

is more about helplessness or puzzlement than general trouble

U

up the creek without a paddle

vsup a tree

• Informal

1 9.9

A very bad situation with no way to fix it

is more general, covering helplessness or puzzlement not only hopelessness

U

up the river without a paddle

vsup a tree

• Informal

1 9.9

To be in a difficult situation with no way out

is generally about being helpless or confused rather than only trapped

U

up a gum tree

vsup a tree

• Australian

9.8

In a difficult situation with no easy way out

is less strictly hopeless and also covers confusion or helplessness

How Helpless

helpless

243 2.0

up a tree

• Informal

2 8.6

stuck

294 3.5

perplexed

7 5.1

unsure

89 1.5

Surface Forms

Morphology

Etymology