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up a tree
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]
Example Sentences
Mr Graham said his "good pal" Mr Carruthers had used his Range Rover before and done tree felling work for him, adding: "I can put him up a tree with ropes and not worry he is going to come down."
Russo also saw a black cat up a tree and figured it must be Blackie.
Denis Carbonaro has been making sculptures in the front and back garden of his Fife semi for nine-and-a-half years, including a woolly mammoth, a Spanish galleon up a tree, a spider and a shrine during Covid.
He said the wounded bear ran off and climbed up a tree — but fell to the ground because of its injuries.
I had never seen anything like it: My Human was being pursued up a tree by a monster.
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