In a difficult situation, as in They found the drugs in his suitcase, so he was up a tree. This expression alludes to an animal, such as a raccoon or squirrel, that climbs a tree for refuge from attackers, which then surround the tree so it cannot come down. [Colloquial; early 1800s]
up a tree
| Idioms: up a tree |
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 | dryad |
| heads up (Idiom) |
| A Lot to Fear/Plant a Tree or Die (2000 Album by Tree) |
 | Can a lizard climb up a tree how? Read answer... |
| When can you put up the Christmas tree? Read answer... |
| What holds up the leaves on a tree? Read answer... |
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 | How do you dig up a lemon tree? |
| Why are Christmas trees tied up? |
| Who made up the word tree? |
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Copyrights:
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 | Idioms. The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. Read more |
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Mentioned in
- dryad
- heads up (Idiom)
- A Lot to Fear/Plant a Tree or Die (2000 Album by Tree)
- string up (Idiom)
- tree
- Up a Tree (1999 Album by Looper)
- The Geometrid (2000 Album by Looper)
- The Geometrid [Japan Bonus Tracks] (2000 Album by Looper)
- Chicka Chicka Boom Boom (1999 Children's/Family Film)
- Looper (Rock Band, '90s, 2000s)
- Dexter's Laboratory: Trick or Treehouse (1998 Film)
- Apple Picking Time: Green Acres (TV Episode) (1970 TV Episode)
- Zacchaeus
- John Hassett (children's author/illustrator)
