behind the ball meaning

[ Colloquial; c. 1920] The term, originating in the United States in the first half of the 1900s, comes from a form of pool in which all the balls (which are numbered) must be pocketed in a certain order.

This reads to me like someone is misusing or …

What's the origin of the phrase 'Behind the eight ball'?

ball' and no such phrases have ever entered the language. I can't make a contribution. Those players that are given balls higher than eight are unlikely to win the game. All of the early known citations of the phrase are American. Clearly, a citation of the use of the phrase before the the use of an eight ball in the game we now call Eight Ball pool would rule that out as the origin.

[ Colloquial; c. 1920] If the eight ball is accidentally hit into a pocket prematurely, the player will lose, and it therefore needs to be avoided. This information should not be considered complete, up to date, and is not intended to be used in place of a visit, consultation, or advice of a legal, medical, or any other professional.https://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/behind+the+eight+ballIn a challenging situation; at a disadvantage. If another player touches the eight ball he or she is penalized. A difficult position from which it is unlikely one can escape.Another version is that the term derives from the game of Kelly Pool, in which players are allocated one of 16 balls to pot and the players with the lower numbered balls play first. It is a fact that it appears in print many times in American newspapers from December 1929 onwards. Therefore, to be behind the eight ball is to be in a losing situation.Ruby fronts this place for the mob (specifically, Trafficante out of Miami) and has got Oswald It's so unfortunate that we've had to struggle so hard and get so far "People want to get away from cities to natural settings," says Chambers, "but without zoning restrictions, you're already "We tried to focus on staying patient because it can be difficult as a bowling group when you're "Sometimes you can want things too much and you do put yourself under more pressure than is necessary."

(*Typically:I was behind the eight ball again and couldn't make my car payment.If a child doesn't get the basics in primary school, they are way behind the eight ball.Basically, I made mistakes and put us right behind the eight ball. 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.

Durham started today already "We have only done it in one game so far and at this point we are If we don't leave early tomorrow, we'll be behind the eight ball, and I doubt we'll reach the cabin by dusk.Because I got the flu, I'm behind the eight ball with my Christmas shopping.I'm behind the eight ball again and can't see how to relieve my dilemma.John is behind the eight ball because he started writing his term paper far too late.Sorry, I'm really behind the eight ball this month.

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The only exception is the No. All content on this website, including dictionary, thesaurus, literature, geography, and other reference data is for informational purposes only. 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.

8 ball, which is black.

Some say that it derives from the Eight Ball version of the game of pool.

When the cue (white) ball is behind the eight (black) ball, a player usually has no shot.

An "eight ball" is one of the numbered balls used in the game of pool, and the last one supposed to be hit into a pocket. There is a game called Eight-ball Croquet, for instance, which pre-dates both of the above forms of pool/billiards. Context: "We have been behind the ball since that point when the GFC hit us," said Zoos South Australia Chief Executive Chris West in a statement. There is dispute about the origin of this phrase.

This generally negative phrase can be reduced to more technical and shorter synonymous phrases such as "in trouble."

behind the eight ball In a bad situation, in a losing position. If your ball is behind the eight ball, the risks of doing this are greater.In a bad situation, bad luck. The balls are numbered and must be potted in order. T. Tazzler Senior Member. Does it mean the same with 'behind the eight ball'?

Last Modified Date: July 24, 2020 The idiomatic English phrase “behind the eight ball ” is used to indicate that someone or some group is in a bad situation, or a challenging circumstance that is not easy to resolve. behind the eight ball In trouble or an awkward position, out of luck, as in His check bounced, leaving Jim behind the eight ball with his landlord.

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