be behind the eight ball

To be in a challenging situation; to be at a disadvantage. An "eight ball" is one of the numbered balls used in the game of pool, and the the last one supposed to be hit into a pocket. If the eight ball is accidentally hit into a pocket prematurely, the player will lose, and it therefore needs to be avoided. If we don't leave early tomorrow, we'll be behind the eight ball, and I doubt we'll reach the cabin by dusk. Because I got the flu, I'm behind the eight ball with my Christmas shopping.

be behind the eight ball

(American & Australian informal)

to be in a difficult situation and unable to make progress

Usage notes: In a game of pool (= a game in which you hit numbered balls into holes around a table), if you are behind the black, number eight ball you are in a difficult position to take your next turn.

The police are very much behind the eight ball - they've had no more leads on these burglaries.

Common Names:

Name	Pronounced	Usage
Albrecht	AHL-brekht	German
Hulda	['hʌldə]
Lena	['li:nə]
Arkaitz	-	Basque
ThuẦN	-	Vietnamese
Laura	LAWR-ə (English), LOW-rah (Spanish, Italian, Finnish, Polish, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, German, Dutch), LAW-oo-raw (Hungarian)	English, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Romanian, Finnish, Estonian, Hungarian, Polish, Slovene, Croa