eightball
[ eyt-bawl ]
/ ˈeɪtˌbɔl /
noun
Pool.
- a black ball bearing the number eight.
- a game in which one player or side must pocket all of either the solid-color balls or the striped ones before being permitted to attempt the pocketing of the eightball, which wins.
Slang.
an inept person.
Idioms for eightball
behind the eightball, Informal.
in a difficult, disadvantageous, or uncomfortable situation: He hasn't studied all term, and now he's behind the eightball.
Words nearby eightball
eiger,
eight,
eight ball,
eight-spot,
eight-track tape,
eightball,
eighteen,
eighteen-wheeler,
eighteenmo,
eighteenth,
eighteenth amendment
Cultural definitions for behind the eight ball
behind the eight ball
A term, referring to the game of pool, meaning in an unfavorable or uncomfortable position: “After his unkind remarks were repeated to the boss, Gary really ended up behind the eight ball.”
Idioms and Phrases with behind the eight ball
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. 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. [Colloquial; c. 1920]