behind the eight ball

Cultural  

1. A term, referring to the game of pool, meaning in an unfavorable or uncomfortable position: “After his unkind remarks were repeated to the boss, Gary really ended up behind the eight ball.”

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behind the eight ball Idioms  

1. In trouble or an awkward position, out of luck, as in His check bounced, leaving Jim behind the eight ball with his landlord. The term comes from pocket billiards or pool, where in certain games if the number eight ball is between the “cue ball” and “object ball” the player cannot make a straight shot. [Colloquial; c. 1920]

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Example Sentences

Mookie Betts was behind the eight ball from the start following a spring-training stomach virus.

From Los Angeles Times

But in a four-run, four-inning start, Gonsolin was derailed by his own physical issue, battling a bloody thumb in a three-run first inning that put the Dodgers behind the eight ball.

From Los Angeles Times

A day never passed without me fully aware that we now lived our lives squarely behind the eight ball.

From Salon

“The ideal would be to alert them well before embers actually start falling,” he said, “because once that happens, you know you’re already behind the eight ball.”

From Los Angeles Times

“It has hurt our snowpack by not adding to it. So we’re behind the eight ball throughout the state.”

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• necessitous
• poor