English Idiom: Behind the eight ball
When you’re behind the eight ball, you are somehow at a disadvantage or in a weak position.
Most people pay their rent or mortgage once a month. Sometimes unexpected emergencies come up that can put us behind the eight ball very quickly if we do not have a contingency plan.
What would happen if your refrigerator broke down? You would have to replace it, and I am sure that for many people, it would be something that had not been a part of their financial plan.
Now, if you have money in the bank for just such a situation, then it is OK.
If you’re pretty tight for cash this month, you’ll find yourself behind the eight ball.