behind the eight ball

behind the eight ball
амер.; жарг.
(behind the eight(-)ball)
в трудном, тяжёлом или проигрышном положении [первонач. тк. в бильярде]

...circumstances have conspired to put you behind the legal eight ball (E. S. Gardner, ‘The Case of the Waylaid Wolf’, ch. 10) — ...обстоятельства сложились так, что с точки зрения закона ваше положение очень серьезно.

You don't even know when the Depression was or what it was, either... The whole country was behind the eight ball, not just me! (P. Roth, ‘When She Was Good’, part II, ch. 3) — Ты даже не знаешь, когда был кризис и что это такое... Вся страна бедствовала, не только я!


Большой англо-русский фразеологический словарь. - М.: «Русский язык-Медиа».. 2006.

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Смотреть что такое "behind the eight ball" в других словарях:

  • behind the eight ball — A difficult position from which it is unlikely one can escape …   The small dictionary of idiomes

  • behind the eight ball — phrasal : in a highly disadvantageous position or baffling situation finds himself behind the eight ball, unable to buy the things his family needs Philip Murray †1952 * * * behind the eight ball (informal) In a difficult situation (from the… …   Useful english dictionary

  • behind the eight ball — 1. mod. in trouble; in a weak or losing position. □ I’m behind the eight ball again. □ John spends a lot of time behind the eight ball. 2. mod. roke. □ Sorry, I’m really behind the eight ball this month. I can’t make a contribution …   Dictionary of American slang and colloquial expressions

  • behind the eight-ball — {adj. phr.}, {slang} In a difficult position; in trouble. * /Mr. Thompson is an older man, and when he lost his job, he found he was behind the eight ball./ * /Bill can t dance and has no car, so he is behind the eight ball with the girls./… …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • behind the eight-ball — {adj. phr.}, {slang} In a difficult position; in trouble. * /Mr. Thompson is an older man, and when he lost his job, he found he was behind the eight ball./ * /Bill can t dance and has no car, so he is behind the eight ball with the girls./… …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • behind\ the\ eight-ball — adj. phr. slang In a difficult position; in trouble. Mr. Thompson is an older man, and when he lost his job, he found he was behind the eight ball. Bill can t dance and has no car, so he is behind the eight ball with the girls. Compare: have two… …   Словарь американских идиом

  • behind the eight-ball — 1. adjective In a difficult situation or tight spot. After his last two projects failed, he was really behind the eight ball. Syn: snookered 2. adverb In a difficult situation …   Wiktionary

  • behind the eight ball — Meaning A dangerous position from which it is unlikely one can escape. Origin From a version of the game of pool. The balls are numbered and must be potted in order. The game is forfeited if a player s cue ball hits the (black) eight ball first.… …   Meaning and origin of phrases

  • behind the eight ball — in a difficult situation. Simpson s thoughtless remarks put him behind the eight ball, and many people thought he should resign. Etymology: from the game of pool (= a game played on a special table with sticks and numbered balls), in which you do …   New idioms dictionary

  • behind the eight ball — in a difficult position, in a predicament, between the devil and...    I m behind the eight ball with the Tax Department. I deducted college tuition fees from my taxable income, but I didn t pay the fees! …   English idioms

  • behind the eight ball —    American    in serious difficulty    From a potentially losing position in the game of pool:     Verdi would get the message that he could find himself behind the eight ball. (Deighton, 1994) …   How not to say what you mean: A dictionary of euphemisms


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