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From the eponymous game, the phrase 'to be behind the 8-ball' means being in a difficult situation.
This would seem to obviously stem from the fact that when playing 8-ball, the 8-ball must be pocketed after clearing the player's other seven balls (or, in some variations, that the 8-ball cannot be hit first). To be "behind" this ball would mean that the player has no clear shot at the balls he has left to sink.
Other sources suggest the term comes from Kelly Pool and refers to balls behind the 8 ball (i.e. higher in number), or that the black ball is harder to aim.
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In the game of '8-ball', as well as many others, the object of the game is, simply, to pocket the 8-ball. Many rules prevent a player from simply shooting 'for' or 'at' the 8-ball directly, such as, for example, a rule stating the balls must be pocketed in numerical rotation, or, perhaps, seven 'stripes' or 'solids' must be pocketed first.
Nevertheless, a player behind the ball can still win. If his shot, as well as fulfilling any rule-based requirement, also, while at least one ball is still rolling, pockets the 8-ball.
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The game is forfeited if a player's cue ball hits the (black) eight ball first. A 'behind the eight ball' position leaves a player in imminent danger of losing.
It means you have a potential problem
Wiki User
∙ 11y ago
Wiki User
∙ 13y agoI believe the phrase comes from billiards players. Sometimes it is advantageous to place the cue ball behind the 8-ball so the other player doesn't have a clear shot at other balls on the table. Being behind the 8-ball means you are in a bad position or falling behind in an activity.
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It means that someone has mixed up three different expressions. One is "to be put behind the eight ball," which is an allusion to the game of pool, meaning to be placed in an awkward, difficult or untenable position. The second expression is to "throw someone a curve ball," which is an allusion to the game of baseball, meaning to suddenly introduce unexpected difficulties for someone. Third is to be "behind the curve," an allusion to graphs, meaning not at the leading edge of things, out of it, slow or stupid. As to what the sentence is TRYING to mean, that's anyone's guess. Maybe its intended meaning is He really dropped the ball that time, or He messed up hugely there.
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What does the phrase 'behind the eight ball mean?
From the eponymous game, the phrase 'to be behind the 8-ball' means being in a difficult situation.This would seem to obviously stem from the fact that when playing 8-ball, the 8-ball must be pocketed after clearing the player's other seven balls (or, in some variations, that the 8-ball cannot be hit first). To be "behind" this ball would mean that the player has no clear shot at the balls he has left to sink.Other sources suggest the term comes from Kelly Pool and refers to balls behind the 8 ball (i.e. higher in number), or that the black ball is harder to aim.---In the game of '8-ball', as well as many others, the object of the game is, simply, to pocket the 8-ball. Many rules prevent a player from simply shooting 'for' or 'at' the 8-ball directly, such as, for example, a rule stating the balls must be pocketed in numerical rotation, or, perhaps, seven 'stripes' or 'solids' must be pocketed first.Nevertheless, a player behind the ball can still win. If his shot, as well as fulfilling any rule-based requirement, also, while at least one ball is still rolling, pockets the 8-ball.---The game is forfeited if a player's cue ball hits the (black) eight ball first. A 'behind the eight ball' position leaves a player in imminent danger of losing.It means you have a potential problem
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the truth behind something is the motivation for an action.
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Not knowing the exact context of the phrase, it probably means that somebody can bowl or pitch a ball so accurately, that he hit a Sixpence with the ball (at some distance).
What does He was behind the curve ball on that one mean?
It means that someone has mixed up three different expressions. One is "to be put behind the eight ball," which is an allusion to the game of pool, meaning to be placed in an awkward, difficult or untenable position. The second expression is to "throw someone a curve ball," which is an allusion to the game of baseball, meaning to suddenly introduce unexpected difficulties for someone. Third is to be "behind the curve," an allusion to graphs, meaning not at the leading edge of things, out of it, slow or stupid. As to what the sentence is TRYING to mean, that's anyone's guess. Maybe its intended meaning is He really dropped the ball that time, or He messed up hugely there.
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