A: Have you booked the tickets and hotels for the vacation?

    B: Not yet. I am behind the eight ball because I started making plans for the holiday far too late.

    Note: In a pool game, two players play 15 balls numbered 1 through 15. The eight ball is played only after a player pockets all seven of his balls. The first to knock down the eight ball wins a game. Players are not allowed to touch the eight ball while aiming to hit the other seven balls. If they find the cue ball immediately behind the eight ball, they’re in a difficult position. Therefore, “behind the eight ball” means a position of difficulty from which one is unlikely to extricate themselves.