Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

up a tree

Word Rarity Uncommon

Frequency: Zipf frequency 4.84 in modern English

Syllables: up- a tree
IPA

9

Scrabble Score

7

Letters

2

Syllables

6

Unique Chars

Meaning

prep_phrase

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

Dated

Example Sentences

""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."

Usage

Dated

Synonyms

over a barrel perplexed stumped up the creek

Questions

What does up a tree mean?: In or into a disadvantaged or difficult situation; at a loss; cornered.

How to pronounce up a tree

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “up a tree”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling () so you know which sounds to aim for.
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Repeat and practice — Say “up a tree” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.