Hi this is Tutor Nick P and this is Prepositional Phrase 115. The prepositional phrase today is
behind the eight ball. Okay. If somebody wants a screenshot, do it right now. Let's get right to
it. If someone is behind the eight ball, he or she is in a difficult or challenging situation or in a
weak or losing position. Okay. Let's continue. The term dates back to the early 1900's and comes from
a form of pool in which all the numbered balls must be hit into a pocket in a certain order. Now
if you ever play pool, the hole that you have to hit the ball into that's called a pocket.
However, in this game one is not supposed to hit the eight ball until it is the last ball to be hit
into a pocket. So I think you got two players and usually one of them got the half the balls and the
other ones, have the other half the balls. Sometimes it's separated between solids and stripes
whichever one. But you once you knock in all your balls then you can knock in the eight ball and you
win. But before you get to that point, you're not allowed to hit the eight ball. So this is where
the problem comes from. Okay. Okay let's continue here. However, in this game one is not supposed to
hit the 8-ball until the last ball. Until it's the last ball to be hit into a pocket, And if a player
hits the eight ball, he's penalized. So you get punished. Sometimes the next ball a player needs
to hit is behind the eight ball and one cannot hit it directly. So if you ever play pool the easiest
way to hit the balls is to try to use the cue ball, the white ball and hit them directly. But
sometimes like other another ball might be in the way. Now you can hit another ball to hit the ball
you want to try to knock it in the pocket, but if it's the eight ball you can't hit that ball.
All right. Thus, it is a weaker or more challenging situation. So if you you are in
that situation you have to do what we sometimes call to bank it. You have to hit the white ball
the cue ball off of like side so it bounces around the table and it doesn't hit the eight
ball and then it can try to try to make it hit the ball that you need to hit in order to knock
it in the pocket. It becomes much harder and more difficult when you cannot hit it straight. So this
is where the whole idea of this phrase comes from. Okay. Let's continue. All right. And we got four
examples to show just how it's used. Here's the first one. Because I caught the flu. I couldn't
get any work done and now I am behind the eight ball. I won't be able to have the project done
on time for the boss. Okay. Number two. I had some major car expenses this month and now I'm behind
the 8-ball. I won't be able to pay my credit card bills. Well at least not this month. In
which case that probably means that you will have to pay extra charges. Which so all those things
you bought on those credit card now cost you a lot more money because you have to pay extra charges
to the credit card company because you didn't pay the bill on time. Let's continue. Number
three. If you don't make sure your child learns the basics, he will be behind the eight ball
all the way through school. Now of course, when we say the basics with the ... in this way we mean
like reading writing and arithmetic. So you have to make sure your child can read and write well
and his comprehension, he can understand. And he knows how to add you know, from arithmetic. Those
are considered to be the basics. All right. Let's continue. And number four. Because I overslept and missed my
flight i am behind the 8-ball and won't be able to get there in time. Before the big event begins or
or before this big meeting begins or whatever it is that you're going there for. Anyway, I hope you
got it. I hope it was clear. I hope it was very informative. Thank you for your time. Bye-bye.