in the green tree … in the dry

Meanings:

• 1.

  chiefly historicalUnited StatesUnited Kingdomidiomaticdatedrhetorical
  • In a better situation as compared with a worse one; used chiefly in rhetorical questions to suggest that a current action or condition that is already unfavorable will be worse under adverse circumstances.

• 2.

  General Englishliteralarchival
  • Contrasting being 'in the green tree' (when resources or conditions are plentiful and favorable) with being 'in the dry' (when resources are scarce and conditions are harsh).