Apedia

Ball Bad Position Father Caught Napping Hammock Mowing

Idiom Behind the Eight Ball
Example My father caught me napping in the hammock instead of mowing the lawn. I'm really behind the eight ball now.
Meaning in trouble or out of luck; in a difficult position or in a bad situation with little hope of winning
Origin This American idiom from the early 1900s comes from billiards. In the game kellypool you have to hit numbered balls into pockets of a billiard table in numerical order, except for ball number eight, which is to be pocketed last. However, if the eight ball is very close to the ball you're trying to hit, you're in trouble. That's a bad position to be in. Today we say that anyone "behind the eight ball" is experiencing a lot of bad luck. Other similar idioms are "in a pretty kettle of fish," "up a creek," "in a pickle," "in the dog house," and "in hot water."

Learn with these flashcards. Click next, previous, or up to navigate to more flashcards for this subject.

Next card: Bells whistles features make teacher computer latest cd-rom

Previous card: Beggars choosers people money pizza eat cafeteria needy

Up to card list: Scholastic Dictionary of Idioms