I’ve rowed many a beautiful, postcard-esque waterway in my time. Some of them are beyond beautiful and English superlatives don’t them justice. Sh*t Creek isn’t a part of that list. Nothing good comes to those finding themselves floating in Sh*t Creek.
You won’t find it on a map. Google can’t locate it. There are no GPS coordinates that take you there. Rest assured, you’ve been to Sh*t Creek at least once. Everyone has.
A real place? Of course, it is. If fairies exist, Shit Creek does too.
It’s a colloquialism, an Aussie one. Sh*t Creek is a place of trouble. To be up Sh*t Creek is to be somewhere you don’t want to be. If you haven’t got a paddle when you’re there, you’re stuck there. Here’s a couple of times when it’s used:
- “Tha’ ute’s bogged to the axels mate. It looks like you’re up sh*t creek without a paddle.”
- “Me plane’s run out of fuel and there’s nowhere to land. I’m up sh*t creek without a paddle.”
- “Jonny’s wife caught him sleepin’ with her sister. He’s up sh*t creek without a paddle.”
See how it works?
Don’t you just love Australian slang? Not a drop of water in sight but we find a pretend creek and lose our imaginary paddle there. We certainly have a unique way of expressing ourselves.
Our county’s harsh landscape, outback lifestyle and weather extremes tend to sculpt our linguistic creativity. Like much of our slang, sarcasm often accompanies it. That’s why it can be difficult to understand us. When we say we’re fine and smile, a quick roll of the eyes will change it, turning the meaning of the reply on its head. The eyes tell you everything isn’t fine at all.
Speaking of turning things on their head, enjoy reading a copy of my book SEETHINGS. It’s a cracker of a yarn. Sh*t Creek is only a part of it. There are more Australianisms found inside its pages.
-Michael (Author of Dark Fiction)
Discover more from Michael Forman – Author of Dark Fiction & Drama
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