介绍:
1) up to one's neck
After the post office lost a lot of mail, they were up to their neck in complaints.
Christmas is the worst time at the animal shelter. They are always up to their necks in stray dogs and cats.
I'm up to my neck in emails and I don't think I can get away at the moment.
Meaning: If you're up to your neck in something you've got too much of it and it's become a problem.
Etymology: Imagine all the problems in one's life are physical objects. If they are up to the neck in them than can no longer move, so the large quantity of problems have become problematic for the individual.
2) up a gum tree
Bruce was up a gum tree when he lost his keys and could not get into his apartment.
The company is up a gum tree because they broke some laws about polluting the environment.
John was up a gum tree when he lost his job and was overdue on the rent.
Meaning: If you're up a gum tree, you're in trouble or have a serious problem.
Etymology: The phrase originated as 'like a possum up a gum tree'. The allusion is to possums escaping up trees after being chased by hounds. Depending on one's point of view the possum could be said to be either in difficulty, as it couldn't escape.
3) live on your wits
Barry has never had a full time job, but he has always had money by living on his wits.
These homeless kids have to learn how to live on their wits, and a lot of them are very smart.
Kyle is a very good businessman, but he never went to university. He says he learned most of his business skills when he was young and still living by his wits.
Meaning: If you live on your wits, or live by your wits, you don't have a regular job but you survive by cleverly manipulating people or situations.
Etymology: You survive by making money from being cleverer than the people around you.
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