A dictionary of Confusable Phrases: More Than 10,000 Idioms and Collocations

Note:
The expression is not equivalent in meaning to the phrase
off and running—
1
. (of horse races) having started: The crowd’s
on its feet at the finish screaming their heads off. And in five
minutes, the next race is off and running…. 2. making a good
start; progressing well: The construction was going to take two
years, but we were off and running, and it appeared we would
finish on schedule.
up the creek • up the river
up the creek —(sl.) facing problems; in trouble (also: up the
creek without a paddle): If that person is on vacation or oth-
erwise not reachable, I am up-the-creek.
up the river —(U.S. Underworld) in prison: Gary was up the
river for a couple of years, but that doesn’t make him a crim-
inal, does it?
Note: 
The expression is not antonymous in meaning to the
phrase down the river—(sl.) in the past; over and done with:
True enough, I used to hustle a little beer in the old days —
but that’s all down the river.
up to the last minute • up to the minute
up to the last minute— until the last possible moment; until
the very end: Despite feverish negotiations and efforts up to
the last minute, the House and Senate failed to negotiate a
compromise.
up to the minute —
1
. (of things) most modern; the latest that
can be offered: Contact us if you want an up-to-the-minute
report on bills moving through the Legislature. 2. (of people)
thinking or behaving in the most modern way: She is a very
attractive young woman, vivacious, up to the minute, a thor-
oughly modern young woman.
Note: 
The expression does not correlate in meaning with the
phrase to the minute—
1
. exactly on time: The limousine arrived
to the minute, and she climbed in gracefully despite her excite-
ment. 2. (of the rate) every minute: Her pulse rate was barely
1
2 beats a minute, breaths came three to the minute, and there
was no measurable blood pressure. 3. up until the moment: We
went expecting a great time and were not disappointed, from
the moment we arrived to the minute we left.