behind the eight-ball

Thought to derive from the game of Kelly pool, in which players assigned balls numerically higher than 8 — that is, balls that are behind the 8 ball in order — have little possibility of winning, or from eight-ball pool, where one cannot contact the eight ball on a shot before it is the legal ball, frustrating shots, or more generally, from the fact that the 8 ball is considered harder to aim at because of its color.

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behind the eight-ball

1. (idiomatic) In a difficult situation or tight spot; at a disadvantage.

   After his last two projects failed, he was really behind the eight-ball.

   He was desperate, playing behind the eight-ball.

• When modifying a noun, used in predicate position.

• (in a difficult situation): snookered