2006-10-27 16:47:04 · 11 answers · asked by Anonymous in Social Science ➔ Sociology
It means you're in a bad situation. The phrase comes from pool (or billiards). When the cue (white) ball is behind the eight (black) ball, a player usually has no shot.
2006-10-27 16:54:06 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 0⤋
It's not a good thing and people say "behind the 8 ball" not "behind the black ball." The black ball is the 8 ball.
2006-10-27 19:15:47 · answer #2 · answered by Calisoxfan 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
C'mon, Leslie my love, ain't about race at-all. It refers to the game of billiards. The correct term is ""behind the 8-ball", which as another contributer mentioned, makes for a difficult shot. Not impossible, just very difficult. Another term is "black-balled". Again, no racial connotation, unless you make it one. To be black-balled means to be voted out, anonimously. Usually in reference to joining a an exclusive club. Members vote with white or black marbles, dropping them into a container. When the container is opened, in front of the candidate, he wants to see all white marbles. A black one and he or she is doomed. Not only that, but that person's place in polite society is crushed. Not a good thing. Means you've become a social leper. You never get invited to a party again.
2006-10-27 17:09:05 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's "being behind the eight-ball." It's a pool metaphor; the eight-ball is coloured black. The last move in a game of pool is to make the white ball hit the eight-ball and send it into a preselected pocket in a corner or side of the pool table. A grasshopper who makes a habit of standing behind eight-balls is likely to get smashed sooner or later.
So being "behind the eight-ball" is a bad thing. It refers to being in a dangerous situation.
2006-10-28 02:32:31 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I've always heard it as "behind the eight-ball" (a bad thing) or else "being blackballed" (also a bad thing)
2006-10-27 21:44:41 · answer #5 · answered by WhiteLilac1 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Who's throwing the ball?
2006-10-27 16:55:47 · answer #6 · answered by blakree 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's a good thing when there's no other balls left on the table.
2006-10-27 16:57:58 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's a bad thing. It means you're in a bad situation, and it's going to be tough to get out of.
2006-10-27 16:50:56 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
in this country, anything associated with 'black' is perceived to be negative. although society is becoming more acceptable to 'black', it was not that way mid to early 1900's
2006-10-27 16:57:59 · answer #9 · answered by leslie b 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
bad
2006-10-27 17:27:00 · answer #10 · answered by rosey 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋