学习了up the creek. Thanks 婉蕠mm

If someone doesn’t shoot pools, it may be hard for him/her to understand and use this phrase - “behind the eight ball”. There are many other synonyms to express the same meaning: in deep water, get oneself in hot water, etc.

Up the creek = up a tree.
When I got a flat tire on my way to my work and I didn’t have a spare one, I found myself up a tree (up the creek).