dis·ad·van·tage (d s  d-v n tj)n. 1. An unfavorable condition or circumstance. 2. Something that places one in an unfavorable condition or circumstance. 3. Damage or loss, especially to reputation or finances; detriment. tr.v. dis·ad·van·taged, dis·ad·van·tag·ing, dis·ad·van·tag·es To put at a disadvantage; hinder or harm. [Middle English disavauntage, from Old French desavantage : des-, dis- + avantage, advantage; see advantage.] Synonyms: disadvantage, detriment, drawback, handicap These nouns denote a condition, circumstance, or characteristic unfavorable to success: Poor health is a disadvantage to athletes. To its detriment, the museum has no parking lot. Every job has its drawbacks. Illiteracy is a serious handicap in life. |
disadvantage [ˌdɪsədˈvɑːntɪdʒ]
Disadvantage
(See also PREDICAMENT, VULNERABILITY.)
behind the eightball At a disadvantage; in a jam or difficult situation. Originally American, this expression is said to have come from the game of Kelly pool. In one variation of this game, all the balls except the black eightball must be pocketed in a certain order. If, in the course of play, another ball strikes the eightball, the player is penalized. Thus, a player finding the eightball between the cueball and the one he intends to pocket is indeed in a disadvantageous position. John O’Hara used the phrase in Appointment in Samarra (1934):
You get signing checks for prospects down at the country club, and you wind up behind the eightball.
get the short end of the stick See VICTIMIZATION.
have two strikes against one To be at a disadvantage, and thus have less chance of successfully reaching one’s goal or following through with one’s plans. This expression comes from baseball, where a batter has three chances to hit a ball in the strike zone. Sometimes this expression alludes to a disadvantage over which one has no control, such as one’s sex, race, or ethnic background.
on the hip At a disadvantage, in an extremely vulnerable or helpless position, over a barrel. There is some dispute as to whether this expression derived from hunting or from wrestling. The wrestling theory seems more plausible and is supported by the OED. The phrase, now archaic, dates from the latter half of the 15th century. It appeared in Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice:
If I can catch him once upon the hip,
I will feed fat the ancient grudge I bear him. (I, iii)
play with loaded dice To undertake a project or other matter in which the odds are against success; to have little chance. Literally, loaded dice are those which have been fraudulently weighted to increase the chances of throwing certain combinations—usually losing ones—in craps or other games of chance. Figuratively, then, to play with loaded dice is to engage in some undertaking in which the odds are fixed so that there is little chance of success. A related expression, play with a stacked deck, has the same implications and refers to cheating by stacking a deck of cards, i.e., arranging them in a certain order to force a desired result.
suck the hind teat See VICTIMIZATION.
underdog A person in an inferior position; one who is expected to be defeated in a race, election, etc.; a dark horse. This expression may allude to a canine skirmish, in which both dogs vie for the more advantageous top position. The familiar phrase, while retaining its sense of an unlikely victor in a competition, is often used today to describe the victim of social conventions, government bureaucracy, and other virtually omnipotent institutions.
The mission of the Democratic party is to fight for the under-dog. (Daily Chronicle, June, 1892)
| Noun | 1. | disadvantage - the quality of having an inferior or less favorable position liability - the quality of being something that holds you back unfavorableness, unfavourableness - the quality of not being encouraging or indicative of success limitation - the quality of being limited or restricted; "it is a good plan but it has serious limitations" shortcoming, defect - a failing or deficiency; "that interpretation is an unfortunate defect of our lack of information" nuisance value, awkwardness - the quality of an embarrassing situation; "he sensed the awkwardness of his proposal" deprivation, loss - the disadvantage that results from losing something; "his loss of credibility led to his resignation"; "losing him is no great deprivation" drawback - the quality of being a hindrance; "he pointed out all the drawbacks to my plan" penalty - the disadvantage or painful consequences of an action or condition; "neglected his health and paid the penalty" unfavorable position, inferiority - the quality of being a competitive disadvantage inexpedience, inexpediency - the quality of being unsuited to the end in view unprofitability, unprofitableness - the quality of affording no gain or no benefit or no profit |
| Verb | 1. | disadvantage - put at a disadvantage; hinder, harm; "This rule clearly disadvantages me" hamper, handicap, hinder - put at a disadvantage; "The brace I have to wear is hindering my movements" prejudice - disadvantage by prejudice advantage - give an advantage to; "This system advantages the rich" |
disadvantage
drawback benefit, advantage, merit, convenience
to sb's disadvantage → perjudicial para algn
to the disadvantage of → en perjuicio or detrimento de
to be at a disadvantage → estar en desventaja, estar en una situación desventajosa
this put him at a disadvantage → esto lo dejó en situación desventajosa
to be at a disadvantage → être désavantagé(e)
to be to sb's disadvantage, to work to sb's disadvantage → désavantager qn
to be to sb's disadvantage → tornare a svantaggio or sfavore di qn
to be at a disadvantage → essere svantaggiato/a
disadvantage → عَيْب nevýhoda ulempe Nachteil μειονέκτημα desventaja haitta désavantage nedostatak svantaggio 不利 불리 nadeel ulempe niekorzyść desvantagem неблагоприятное положение nackdel คนที่เสียเปรียบ dezavantaj sự bất lợi 劣势
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