If you like looking up new phrases, this is a wonderful website:
http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/behind-the-eight-ball.html
I used "behind the eight ball" in a letter last night. And a friend asked me, "What does that mean?"
I had to go looking myself! According to the website above, it is an American slang expression that means, "to be in a difficult position." We could also say, "to be in a tight spot." In the difficult position, you also see no easy escape.
If you are "behind the eight ball," you might be --- on a train, it's moving, and you realize you lost your ticket.... Or... you get a call from school that your child is sick, but your boss just said YOU MUST GET THIS JOB DONE BY 1:00...... Or... the landlord is at your door, and you do not have the rent money for him or her. That is being "behind the eight ball." Not a happy day.
We think the expression comes from a game called "pool." In pool, there are balls with numbers on a table that you have to poke with a long stick. The balls roll and drop into pockets at the corners of the table. Trouble comes if you hit the ball number "eight." So, you do not want to be "behind" the eight ball with your stick.
When was the last time you were "behind the eight ball"? I was behind the eight ball yesterday. I came to my class and realized... I had done the homework all wrong. Uh-oh!
http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/behind-the-eight-ball.html
I used "behind the eight ball" in a letter last night. And a friend asked me, "What does that mean?"
I had to go looking myself! According to the website above, it is an American slang expression that means, "to be in a difficult position." We could also say, "to be in a tight spot." In the difficult position, you also see no easy escape.
If you are "behind the eight ball," you might be --- on a train, it's moving, and you realize you lost your ticket.... Or... you get a call from school that your child is sick, but your boss just said YOU MUST GET THIS JOB DONE BY 1:00...... Or... the landlord is at your door, and you do not have the rent money for him or her. That is being "behind the eight ball." Not a happy day.
We think the expression comes from a game called "pool." In pool, there are balls with numbers on a table that you have to poke with a long stick. The balls roll and drop into pockets at the corners of the table. Trouble comes if you hit the ball number "eight." So, you do not want to be "behind" the eight ball with your stick.
When was the last time you were "behind the eight ball"? I was behind the eight ball yesterday. I came to my class and realized... I had done the homework all wrong. Uh-oh!
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