where does the term "behind the 8 ball" come from?

Answer 1

it refers to the game of pool known as 8 ball (where the object is to clear the table of all of your balls and then shoot the 8 ball). Because shooting the 8 ball into a pocket before all of your balls have been cleared causes you to lose, any time the 8 ball is in front of or around one of your balls it is considered hazerdous at best. Thus "behind the 8 ball" is to be in a set of circumstances where there are great hazards and problems, where care need be taken lest one lose the game.

Answer 2

It comes from pool. The 8-ball is the last ball to be pocketed, so if the ball you have to pocket first, or the cue ball is behind the 8-ball, you have an extremely difficult shot, perhaps impossible, i.e. you're in a lot of trouble. Similarly, in your job or in a debate or some task you have to complete, if you're "behind the 8-ball" you're in a very difficult to impossible position.

Answer 3

Billiards... since if your cue ball strikes the 8 ball before a ball of your type (stripes/solids) is considered a scratch.... behind the 8 ball is a situation that is tough to get out of.

Answer 4

Behind The Eight Ball was a biography written about Minnesota Fats. It is just a catch phrase.

Answer 5

pool...because it's hard to hit the ball with the 8 ball so i gues it's a term used to say that it's hard to get

Answer 6

pool. how many other things have an 8-ball? i mean besides coke-heads.

Answer 7

billiards because you cant shoot the eightball until the end so its a hard shot

Answer 8

billiards