The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 7 letter word PIRAGUA
I've seen this crossword clue in Independent
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More clues leading to the result PIRAGUA
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "in which one could be up the creek with no paddle?" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case in which one could be up the creek with no paddle? = piragua.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does PIRAGUA mean?
PIRAGUA noun- A Puerto Rican frozen dessert, shaped like a pyramid, made of shaved ice and covered with fruit-flavored syrup.
- A dugout canoe.
- A vessel made by cutting a canoe in two lengthwise and inserting a large plank.
- A large keelless flat-bottomed boat for shoal-water navigation, decked at the ends only, propelled by rowing, or by sails on two masts capable of being struck.
- (by extension) Any small boat.