這是一句很不好翻譯的英文成語，不僅難倒學生，也難倒老師，很多華人英文專家， 典故講了又講， 定義說了半天，依然不知要用甚麼適切的文字說出正確的中文語意， 看看「美國習慣用語」所舉的兩個例子：
例句1：Coach Jones is behind the eight ball this season. He's got to win more than he loses or he'll get fired for sure, and the team has already lost the first five.他說：Jones教練這個賽季處於岌岌可危的境地，他務必贏多輸少才行，否則他一定會被解雇，更何況他的球隊已經輸了頭五場比賽。
--這段話裏的behind the eight ball意思是處境岌岌可危的。
例句2：My friend Pete has been out of work six months and he's really behind the eight ball. He’s used up his savings and can't pay his rent or the payments he owes on his car.
他說：我的朋友Pete失業有六個月了，可真是山窮水盡，他已經用完了手頭所有積蓄，連欠的房租和汽車貸款都付不出了。
--這裡的behind the eight ball意思是手頭拮據的。
但，定義相同，一樣是 In an unfavorable or uncomfortable position的意思，為何翻成中文就天差地別？
同樣的語例還有：
A: I have to stay up all night to work on my essay tonight. It’s due tomorrow. 我今天晚上要不眠不休的趕論文，我明天要交。
B: Why do you always have to put yourself behind the eight ball? You could have started writing it a month ago. 你幹嘛每次都要把自己弄成這樣，明明一個月前你就可以開始寫。
put oneself behind the eight ball 翻譯成把...弄成這樣，是在說甚麼？有講到甚麼意涵嗎？
有人會說，例句不同，語意自然不同，是的，是的，這大家都懂，那我們不妨做個試驗，看用「一個頭兩個大」翻譯上面三個例句，行不行得通：
1. Jones教練這個賽季一個頭兩個大，他務必贏多輸少才行，否則他一定會被解雇，更何況他的球隊已經輸了頭五場比賽。
2. 我的朋友Pete失業有六個月了，他真的是一個頭兩個大，因為他已經用完了手頭所有積蓄，連房租和汽車貸款都付不出。
3. Why do you always have to put yourself behind the eight ball? You could have started writing it a month ago. 你幹嘛每次都要把自己弄到一個頭兩個大，明明一個月前你就可以開始寫的。
同樣的，我們也可以用一個頭兩個大來翻譯下面文句：
1. Bush aides admitted they have been behind the eight ball, partly because of Hurricane Katrina. 布希助理承認他們一直是一個頭兩個大，部分原因出自卡崔納颶風。
2. I think the economy's already in a downturn so either one that gets in there is going to be kind of behind the eight ball. 我認為經濟已經開始走下坡，無論是誰入主白宮都會一個頭兩個大.
3. I'm really behind the eight ball at work. I have too much work to do but we can't afford to hire anyone to help out.我上班真的是一個頭兩個大，我有很多工作要做，但我們請不起人幫忙。
4. Having accepted two different invitations to dinner Saturday night, she found herself behind the eight ball.她週末晚上答應兩場晚宴邀約，發現自己一個頭兩個大。
中譯英亦同
她離開後我就一個頭兩個大。I've been behind the eight ball ever since she left.
