behind the times
8
4.8
- idiom
- Many people believe that traditional TV is behind the times in the age of streaming services.
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Watch on YouTubeSo they, they are clearly behind the times.
- So they, they are clearly behind the times.
- It's outdated, it's slow, it's behind the times, etcetera.
Examples
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Well, your papa is clearly behind the times.
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The implication was obvious: Schools are behind the times.
Academic text (1997) -
Sam said l was behind the times.
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Boy, were we behind the times.
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We are still about 10 to 15 years behind the times.
Blog text (9) -
I'm a little behind the times.
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Maybe I'm behind the times.
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OK, so they're a little behind the times.
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A "no" would be a confession that the institution is sadly behind the times.
Academic text (1995) -
My ignorance in this field makes me feel that I'm fifty years behind the times.
Fiction book (1993)
Synonyms
89
5.8
No longer used or made because something newer replaces it
79
5.0
No longer useful or fashionable because it is old
71
6.2
Not modern and looking old-fashioned
37
4.4
No longer current or in use
31
8.2
Very old and not useful or suitable now
1
8.4
Gradually becoming out of date and not used much
1
7.8
Old-fashioned and slow to use new technology
1
6.8
No longer new or fashionable
1
7.1
Old and no longer useful or accepted today
1
9.9
A person or thing that belongs to a different time and feels out of place now
1
7.6
Out of date and not keeping up with current ideas
1
9.9
Belonging to a different time and not fitting the present
Old and out of date in ideas, opinions, or ways
Antonyms
How Outdated
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning 'not keeping up with current developments' is directly derivable from 'behind' (in a delayed or less advanced position) combined with 'times' (the current era), so the phrase signals being lagging relative to the present. This compositional relation (being "behind" in relation to the times) is a straightforward, cross-linguistic logic and should be understandable to a B1 learner who knows the constituents.
Etymology
The idiom behind the times may come from the simple image of someone who is physically behind the new times, for example still wearing old clothes when everyone else has new styles. So, to be behind the times means to be 'outdated' and not keep up with new ideas.