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. All of the early known citations of the phrase are American. What's the origin of the phrase 'Behind the eight ball'? However, as we often find, plausibility isn't everything and further research may prove the case one way or the other.
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. This reads to me like someone is misusing or … (*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. When the cue (white) ball is behind the eight (black) ball, a player usually has no shot. 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. 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.
behind the eight ball In a bad situation, in a losing position. Does it mean the same with 'behind the eight ball'? Therefore, if the eight ball is in front of the ball one is trying to pocket, one is in a difficult position.In a precarious situation. 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. T. Tazzler Senior Member. [ Colloquial; c. 1920]
Maryland. A difficult position from which it is unlikely one can escape. Cambridge Dictionary +Plus I can't make a contribution. 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. 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]
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. ball' and no such phrases have ever entered the language. If another player touches the eight ball he or she is penalized. This second supposed derivation carries less plausibility, as: - It would make just as much sense to say 'behind the seven/nine etc. 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. I can find no uses of the phrase prior to that date. If the eight ball is accidentally hit into a pocket prematurely, the player will lose, and it therefore needs to be avoided. There is dispute about the origin of this phrase. The eight ball isn't specifically named in that game, so it is difficult to see how the phrase might have originated there. behind the eight ball definition: 1. in a difficult situation or in a worse situation than other people: 2. in a difficult situation…. Learn more. It is a fact that it appears in print many times in American newspapers from December 1929 onwards. In trouble or an awkward position, out of luck, as in The black ball is numbered eight in a variety of the game of pool known as In the game of pool, if you hit the eight ball (= the black ball) into one of the holes at the wrong time, you lose the game. It dates from the early 20th century - the earliest citation that I can find is from the Wisconsin newspaper The precise date of the coining of the phrase isn't known. The balls are numbered and must be potted in order. I was behind the eight ball again and couldn’t make my car payment. In certain games of pool or billiards, a player whose cue ball (the ball that strikes the other balls) is behind the 8 ball is unlikely to make any shot. All content on this website, including dictionary, thesaurus, literature, geography, and other reference data is for informational purposes only. 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. 8 ball, which is black. "Behind the 8 ball" is an expression from pool (billiards) for being in a difficult situation with little chance for escaping. Behind the eight ball (in various spellings) may refer to: "Behind the eight ball", an idiomatic expression meaning in a difficult situation; Behind the Eight Ball, a 1942–1956 series of short comedy films with Joe McDoakes "Behind the Eight Ball", a 1942 song in You Don't Know What Love Is, a … Of course, there may be some altogether unrelated source. The phrase comes from pool (or billiards). Learn more. 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. 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." There is a game called Eight-ball Croquet, for instance, which pre-dates both of the above forms of pool/billiards. Some say that it derives from the Eight Ball version of the game of pool. 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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