# Lord willing and the creek don't rise

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/lord-willing-and-the-creek-dont-rise
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

Barring unforeseen circumstances.

## Examples

- I will see you tomorrow, Lord willing and the creek don't rise.
- We plan to finish the garden project by Saturday, Lord willing and the creek don't rise.
- The family intends to gather for the annual reunion in July, Lord willing and the creek don't rise, provided no emergencies interfere with their travel plans.

## Origin

The phrase is a modern extension of the ancient religious formula *God willing* or *Lord willing*, expressions of pious submission to divine providence. It appends a secondary, secular condition to the primary theological one: that the traveler should not only be permitted by God to proceed but also be physically capable of crossing the landscape. The reference to the creek is a matter of practical geography, alluding to the tendency of small watercourses to flood after heavy rain and render travel impossible. While the term is occasionally re-interpreted as a reference to the Creek tribe, the phrase in its standard form records the humble inconveniences of 19th-century infrastructure. One might receive the blessing of the Lord to attend a meeting, only to find the local geography has other plans.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.