behind the eight ball不是“在八个球的后面”，而是处境危险；无可救药；凶多吉少 。

【例句】
Bob broke one of his wife's most precious dishes and is really behind the eight ball.
鲍勃打坏了他妻子最珍贵的一个盘子，现在他可真是凶多吉少了。

My new job got me behind the eight ball.
我的新任务使我陷入困境。