eight ball
noun North American
1 (also eight-ball pool) [mass noun] A variety of the game of pool.Often times, we hold back in the game of eight ball because we think we will end up with no finishing shot and our opponent will have a clear change to win the game....
- In the game of eight ball you will be exposed to many pitfalls.
- He took up snooker and eight ball pool, becoming good at both.
1.1 [count noun] The black ball, numbered eight, in eight ball.The cue ball causes the eight ball to roll into a pocket....
- I've reversed banked many an eight ball to give my opponent a ‘hopeless’ feeling.
- ‘Thanks,’ Mitchell said simply, then failed at shooting the black eight ball into the corner pocket.
2 informal A portion of an illegal drug weighing an eighth of an ounce (3.54 g).The lab did not check to see how much of the eight ball was meth and how much was cutting agent....
- We're talking people who need a abacus to work out how many grams are in an eight ball.
- They are accused of selling an eight ball of coke to another cop.
Phrases
behind the eight ball