Meanings
- datedidiomaticIn or into a disadvantaged or difficult situation; at a loss; cornered.
"Oh, I'm up a tree again. I see I don't even know the A B C of this business."
1894, Robert Barr, chapter 7, in In the Midst of Alarms4 more examples
"I'm a bit up a tree, Miss," he said shuffling his feet on the oak floor. "I behaved a fool."
1864, Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu, chapter 53, in Uncle SilasI found the doctor in his study, and the whole room full of rods and lines and reels. . . . When he called me to come and look at his flies I was all up a tree, and didn't know what he was talking about.
1891, Laura E. Richards, chapter 14, in Hildegarde's Holiday"You're a liar," says I, a little riled that Idaho should try to put me up a tree.
1904, O. Henry, “The Handbook of Hymen”, in Heart of the WestThe general consensus of opinion in Outwood's during the luncheon interval was that, having got Downing's up a tree, they would be fools not to make the most of the situation.
1909, P. G. Wodehouse, chapter 40, in Mike: A Public School StorySynonyms: over a barrel, perplexed, stumped, up the creek
Synonyms & antonyms
prepositional phraseIn or into a disadvantaged or difficult situation; at a loss; cornered.
Cite this entry
up a tree. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/up%20a%20tree
“up a tree.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/up%20a%20tree. Accessed November 4, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “up a tree,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/up%20a%20tree.
Source: up a tree on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.