Meaning of up a tree | Babel Free

Definitions

In or into a disadvantaged or difficult situation; at a loss; cornered.

dated, idiomatic

Examples

“"I'm a bit up a tree, Miss," he said shuffling his feet on the oak floor. "I behaved a fool."”

“I 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.”

“"Oh, I'm up a tree again. I see I don't even know the A B C of this business."”

“"You're a liar," says I, a little riled that Idaho should try to put me up a tree.”

“The 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.”

CEFR level