"Behind the Eight Ball" expression-good or bad?

Cardigan Kid

Cardigan Kid

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
I've heard the expression "behind the Eight Ball" used a lot by what I assume non-pool players, and I now I'm not sure if it means something good or bad.
I always thought that if you get behind the eight ball on your final shot while playing 8 ball it was a good thing. You aren't off to the side at an angle or snookered behind another ball. so you have a straight in shot for the win.

On espn, I heard a commentator say "the team is trying to get behind the eight ball by making these crucial trades early".....

Then, just today, on a radio ad, I heard "don't get stuck behind the eight ball, come on in for great deals".

I can't site other examples exactly by memory but I know in recent years I've heard this expression used from politics to sports, and sometimes the speaker thinks it's good, and sometimes it's used like it's bad.

Which is it?
 
Even before I started playing pool (2 years ago), I always took it to mean something negative.

First time I hooked myself behind the 8-ball, I said "Ahh, that's what the expression means!"

If it was meant to connotate something good, they'd have made it "Straight on the 8-ball" or such.
 
Interesting, I've never heard it used in a positive way. I think the generally accepted meaning is that you're stuck in a bad position.

From a pool perspective, it doesn't really make sense. You don't want to be behind the 8-ball if you need to shoot at a different ball but the 8 is blocking you. But that's true of any ball that's got you blocked, so why pick on the 8? And if you do need to shoot the 8, I'd think you want to be "behind" it.

fats.jpg
 
Cardigan Kid said:
I've heard the expression "behind the Eight Ball" used a lot by what I assume non-pool players, and I now I'm not sure if it means something good or bad.
I always thought that if you get behind the eight ball on your final shot while playing 8 ball it was a good thing. You aren't off to the side at an angle or snookered behind another ball. so you have a straight in shot for the win.

On espn, I heard a commentator say "the team is trying to get behind the eight ball by making these crucial trades early".....

Then, just today, on a radio ad, I heard "don't get stuck behind the eight ball, come on in for great deals".

I can't site other examples exactly by memory but I know in recent years I've heard this expression used from politics to sports, and sometimes the speaker thinks it's good, and sometimes it's used like it's bad.

Which is it?
Click to expand...
I doubt that any of those speakers knows where the expression comes from. It does not refer to the game of eight ball nor does it refer to being physically behind the eight ball. Instead it means the pill you drew for kelly pool is numerically higher than 8. Or at least that's the derivation I like: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kelly_pool
 
Bob Jewett said:
I doubt that any of those speakers knows where the expression comes from. It does not refer to the game of eight ball nor does it refer to being physically behind the eight ball. Instead it means the pill you drew for kelly pool is numerically higher than 8. Or at least that's the derivation I like: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kelly_pool
Click to expand...

http://en.m.wiktionary.org/wiki/behind_the_eight-ball

Interesting...sort of!;)

I had always believed the reference was grounded in 8b, though it is believed to have been used prior to that game's intentioned.

Learn us some more smarts, i say,
 
Cardigan Kid said:
I've heard the expression "behind the Eight Ball" used a lot by what I assume non-pool players, and I now I'm not sure if it means something good or bad.
I always thought that if you get behind the eight ball on your final shot while playing 8 ball it was a good thing. You aren't off to the side at an angle or snookered behind another ball. so you have a straight in shot for the win.

On espn, I heard a commentator say "the team is trying to get behind the eight ball by making these crucial trades early".....

Then, just today, on a radio ad, I heard "don't get stuck behind the eight ball, come on in for great deals".

I can't site other examples exactly by memory but I know in recent years I've heard this expression used from politics to sports, and sometimes the speaker thinks it's good, and sometimes it's used like it's bad.

Which is it?
Click to expand...

WOW -----> (imbsitw)
 
Means in a bad situation derived from the the situation in the game of 8 ball where you need to hit a solid or stripe but cannot, because the cue ball is blocked by the 8. Hence you are in a bad position. (unless you kick like Efren), who was not on the scene when the expression came into use.
 
Bob Jewett said:
I doubt that any of those speakers knows where the expression comes from. It does not refer to the game of eight ball nor does it refer to being physically behind the eight ball. Instead it means the pill you drew for kelly pool is numerically higher than 8. Or at least that's the derivation I like: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kelly_pool
Click to expand...

I believe you are correct Bob. But over time, with introduction of the almost universally recognized game of 8b, I think the meaning has changed to being behind the 8b, literally. Thus, if you have no shot when you are behind the 8b, and thus in trouble.

my lic plates are BHIND D 8
 
I just read Bob"s linkand the subsequent links there in. Bob is right, I am wrong. All these years I have been using an expression thinking of an incorrect source....still in a tough situation. thanks Bob,
 
It Great!

Cardigan Kid said:
I've heard the expression "behind the Eight Ball" used a lot by what I assume non-pool players, and I now I'm not sure if it means something good or bad.
I always thought that if you get behind the eight ball on your final shot while playing 8 ball it was a good thing. You aren't off to the side at an angle or snookered behind another ball. so you have a straight in shot for the win.

On espn, I heard a commentator say "the team is trying to get behind the eight ball by making these crucial trades early".....

Then, just today, on a radio ad, I heard "don't get stuck behind the eight ball, come on in for great deals".

I can't site other examples exactly by memory but I know in recent years I've heard this expression used from politics to sports, and sometimes the speaker thinks it's good, and sometimes it's used like it's bad.

Which is it?
Click to expand...

I think its great because it reminds people about Pool. I wish we had more sayings in our culture like this.
 
336Robin said:
I think its great because it reminds people about Pool. I wish we had more sayings in our culture like this.
Click to expand...

That's a GREAT point, anything to keep pool relevant in the culture is important.

Now that we had Bob chime in with the actual meaning of the saying (pill pool), it makes a ton more sense. In an 8 ball scenario, being "behind" is pretty general and left to interpretation. How far behind? One inch, two feet? And behind it in relation to what? The pocket? Your last stripe ball?

So with the pill pool explanation it is pretty solid. It leaves little to the interpretation.

Now can one use the opposite and say "he was working overtime on the job and trying to get out in front of the Eight Ball"? (As in trying to increase your chances of a winning situation)
 
chicagorj said:
i believe you are correct bob. But over time, with introduction of the almost universally recognized game of 8b, i think the meaning has changed to being behind the 8b, literally. Thus, if you have no shot when you are behind the 8b, and thus in trouble.

My lic plates are bhind d 8
Click to expand...

^^^^this^^^^^
 
Behind the 8 ball is one of my favorite pool terms incorporated into Americana. Everyone knows what it means. A couple of other terms that get a lot of play especially on sports shows are:

- Running the Table such as finishing up with out any interference or stopage

- Snookered as similar to behind the 8 ball

- Crazy English as in a baseball hit with a lot of spin

- Cued or Qued as in cued the baseball down the line

- Billiard ball as in he's as bald as a billiard ball
 
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