up the creek

in Dutch in a pickle in a tight spot in hot water on the hot seat on-the-spot out on a limb

helpless unarmed unprotected

caught endangered exposed hands tied in line of fire indefensible like a clay pigeon like a sitting duck naked on the line on-the-spot open out on limb pigeon poor unguarded weak wide open

powerful strong

despondent forlorn futile sad vain

downcast goner

at end of one's rope back to the wall can't win dead duck despairing desponding gone hard up in the soup in the toilet inconsolable irrecoverable irremediable irretrievable no chance no-win running out of time sunk up against it useless wretched

cheerful happy hopeful joyful

calm confident content contented satisfactory satisfied secure unworried

desperate forlorn helpless impossible pointless sad tragic useless

bad beyond recall cynical dejected demoralized despairing despondent disconsolate discouraging downhearted fatal gone goner ill-fated impracticable in despair incurable irredeemable irreparable irreversible irrevocable lost menacing no-win past hope shot down sinister sunk threatening unachievable unavailing unfortunate unmitigable vain woebegone worsening

cheerful good happy hopeful joyful

auspicious bright encouraging expectant optimistic promising propitious rosy

bad beyond recall cureless cynical dejected demoralized despairing desperate despondent disconsolate discouraging downhearted fatal forlorn gone goner helpless ill-fated impossible impracticable in despair incurable irredeemable irreparable irreversible irrevocable lost menacing no-win past hope pointless sad shot down sinister sunk threatening tragic unachievable unavailing unfortunate unmitigable useless vain woebegone worsening