up a tree
Preserved but no longer current.
Meaning · English
In a difficulty, in a mess, non- plussed, An American phrase, from 'coon hunting. As soon as the coon is driven up a tree he is helpless.
Era: ca. 1898 (Victorian)
Sources & notes
Reproduced from Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898 edition, public domain; archive.org, retrieved 2026-07-31; OCR text, minor errors possible). Reflects the scholarship and attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “up a tree” mean?
In a difficulty, in a mess, non- plussed, An American phrase, from 'coon hunting. As soon as the coon is driven up a tree he is helpless.
Is “up a tree” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.