up a tree

Idioms  

1. 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]

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Example Sentences

Church-goers lit up a tree decorated with stars bearing the image of those killed in June.

From Barron's

I hadn’t even wanted to put up a tree this Christmas, but when my husband and I went away on a weekend trip, my daughter secretly installed a four-foot one in our small two-bedroom rental.

From Los Angeles Times

Tao Tao scurried away and scampered up a tree—the perfect response!

From Literature

Responding to a call, Susan Clark of Topanga Animal Rescue witnessed BB14 facing down yipping coyotes, with her cubs up a tree.

From The Wall Street Journal

Local hunters were called in and brought hounds, which began trailing the bear, and chased it up a tree shortly afterward.

From BBC

Related Words

• difficulty
• dilemma
• embarrassment
• impasse
• plight
• predicament
• puzzle
• uncertainty