The phrase “behind the eight ball” refers to being in a difficult or disadvantaged position, often where one has limited options or is struggling to recover from a setback. The origin of the phrase comes from the game of pool or billiards, where the eight ball is the final ball to be pocketed, and if it is hit incorrectly or early, it results in a loss. Being “behind the eight ball” means being in a situation where you are likely to lose or face difficulty. In Indonesian, this can be expressed as “dalam posisi yang sulit” or “terjebak dalam situasi yang buruk”, which highlights being trapped or in a difficult position.
Synonyms:
- In a tight spot
- In trouble
- In a bind
- Under pressure
- In a jam
- In a pickle
- In a difficult situation
- Facing adversity
- In hot water
- Between a rock and a hard place
Example Sentences:
- The company is behind the eight ball after the unexpected layoffs and declining sales.
- She found herself behind the eight ball when she missed the deadline for the important project.
- With so many assignments and deadlines, he’s really behind the eight ball this week.
- The team was behind the eight ball after losing their top scorer to an injury.
- After missing the flight, we were behind the eight ball for the whole trip.
- The new manager is already behind the eight ball trying to gain the trust of his team.
- He felt behind the eight ball after his last-minute mistake cost the team the game.
- They were behind the eight ball with their marketing strategy, and it showed in the poor sales numbers.
- Getting stuck in traffic made us behind the eight ball for the big presentation.
- After the funding was delayed, the startup found itself behind the eight ball with its growth plans.
Related Words:
- Setback
- Adversity
- Struggle
- Trouble
- Deficit
- Defeat
- Difficulty
- Jam
- Crisis
- Mishap
Related Phrasal Verbs:
- Get into a jam (find oneself in a difficult situation)
- Be in a bind (be in a problematic or difficult position)
- Run into trouble (encounter problems or difficulties)
- Come up short (fail to meet expectations or needs)
- Catch up with (try to overcome a disadvantage or shortcoming)
- Be up against it (be in a challenging or difficult situation)
- Fall behind (fail to keep up with expectations or progress)
- Get the short end of the stick (receive unfair treatment or be at a disadvantage)
- Dig oneself into a hole (create a situation that becomes progressively worse)
- Be between a rock and a hard place (be faced with two equally difficult choices)
Idiomatic Expressions:
- In over one’s head (being involved in something that is too difficult or overwhelming)
- Up the creek without a paddle (in a difficult or hopeless situation)
- In a tight spot (in a challenging or problematic situation)
- Out of the frying pan and into the fire (going from one difficult situation to a worse one)
- Caught between a rock and a hard place (having to choose between two bad options)
- Bite off more than one can chew (take on more responsibility than one can handle)
- Dig oneself into a hole (get into a bad situation that’s hard to escape)
- Have a lot on one’s plate (having many responsibilities or problems to deal with)
- On the ropes (in a position where success is uncertain or close to defeat)
- Throw in the towel (give up, especially after facing difficulties or setbacks)
The phrase “behind the eight ball” conveys a sense of being stuck or at a disadvantage in any given situation. Whether in work, personal life, or any other area, it implies that the individual is struggling to overcome challenges or setbacks. Recognizing this position can be the first step toward taking action to improve or recover from the difficult situation.