up the creek (without a paddle)

in an extremely difficult situation.

All those people who have money invested in it are going to be up the creek.

Etymology: based on the idea of being in a small boat in a stream and not having a paddle (= short pole with a wide, flat part) with which to move it

• have day in court
• have dead to rights
• have designs on
• have designs on someone
• have designs on something
• have dibs on
• have dibs on something
• have done more something than has had hot dinners
• have done more something than someone has had hot dinners
• have done more than has had hot dinners
• have done more than someone has had hot dinners
• have [done/seen/had etc.] more something than has had hot dinners
• have [done/seen/had etc.] more something than someone has had hot dinners
• have [done/seen/had etc.] more than has had hot dinners
• have [done/seen/had etc.] more than someone has had hot dinners
• have down on like a ton of bricks
• have down on you like a ton of bricks
• have down pat
• have down to a fine art
• have down to a science
• have ducks in a row
• have ear
• have ear to the ground
• have egg on face
• have egg on your face