up a paddle without a creek
A kind and polite way to say that someone has a stick up their ass. It's saying that someone is being overly stubborn, that they're refusing to come to terms with a situation, or that they're being waaay too strict about something and they're making a mountain out of a molehill.
-- Excerpt from "Kung Fu Panda" --
Master Shifu: "Tai Lung has broken out of prison! He's on his way!"
Master Oogway: "That is bad news. If you believe that the dragon warrior cannot stop him."
Master Shifu: "The panda?!? Master, that panda is not the dragon warrior! He wasn't even meant to be here! It was an accident."
Master Oogway: "There are no accidents."
Master Shifu: "Yes, I know. You've said that already."
Master Oogway: "Heh, well, it looks like you're up a paddle without a creek. And if you are up a paddle, the paddle is up you."
Master Shifu: "Tai Lung has broken out of prison! He's on his way!"
Master Oogway: "That is bad news. If you believe that the dragon warrior cannot stop him."
Master Shifu: "The panda?!? Master, that panda is not the dragon warrior! He wasn't even meant to be here! It was an accident."
Master Oogway: "There are no accidents."
Master Shifu: "Yes, I know. You've said that already."
Master Oogway: "Heh, well, it looks like you're up a paddle without a creek. And if you are up a paddle, the paddle is up you."