eightball

[ eyt-bawl ]
/ ˈeɪtˌbɔl /

noun

Pool.
  1. a black ball bearing the number eight.
  2. 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.

Origin of eightball

An Americanism dating back to 1930–35; eight + ball1

British Dictionary definitions for eight ball

eight ball

noun US and Canadian

(in pool) the black ball, marked with the number eight
behind the eight ball in a difficult situation; snookered