Possible Clues:

• "Up the creek," is one
• "In the doghouse," e.g
• Cold shoulder or hot corner
• Challenge for a translator
• I had ten thousand in a manner of speaking
• "Going to the dogs," e.g
• 'I had ten thousand, in a manner of speaking (5)'
• It shouldn't be taken literally
• 'On easy street,' e.g
• Strong suit or weak sauce