Phrase guide

Lord willing and the creek don't rise

phrase · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

phrase

Meaning 1

Barring unforeseen circumstances.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: US, idiomatic, informal

Examples

  • Near-synonym: hopefully (sentence adverbial sense)
  • Lord willing and the creek don't rise, we'll have that new barn finished in time for the harvest.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: God willing and the creek don't rise, Lord willing, God willing, more at Thesaurus:God forbid § Antonyms, hopefully

Antonyms: hell no, God forbid

History

Etymology

Statements of the form "God/Lord willing and (some other condition being met)" are ancient extensions of simple acceptance of God's will in phrases like God willing and Lord willing. "Creek" originated as a reference to creeks flooding and preventing travel, but is sometimes re-interpreted as a reference to the Creek tribe.

Across languages

Translations

4 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Dutch: ijs en weder dienende — phrase
  • Dutch: bij leven en welzijn — phrase
  • Finnish: jos Luoja suo — phrase
  • Polish: jak Bóg pozwoli — phrase