behind the eight ball
Meaning: In a difficult situation or position.
Language: English
Literally: (Already vivid in English)
Category: Daily Life
Origin: The expression comes from the game of billiards, or pool, in which the eight ball is always pocketed last. If one accidentally sinks the eight ball before the others, one automatically loses the game. Trying to hit another ball that is too close to the eight ball is seen as a risky situation.
More idioms — Daily Life
- hit someone below the belt — To act unfairly.
- beside oneself — Distraught; very anxious and troubled.
- beside the point — Irrelevant.
- bet one's boots — To be sure.
- bet one's bottom dollar — To be sure.
- beyond the pale — Beyond or outside the limits of morally or socially acceptable behavior.
More English idioms
- big shot — An important, powerful, or influential person.
- big wheel — An important, powerful, or influential person.
- bigwig — An important, powerful or influential person.
- black and blue — Discolored from a bruise; injured in a fight either physically or verbally.
- black market — A system of buying and selling illegal goods or goods at illegal prices or quantities.
- black out — To lose consciousness temporarily.
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