to fall behind
2
3.5
- phrasal verb
- /fɔl bɪˈhaɪnd/
:
quedarse atrás
- During the race, she became tired and started to fall behind the other runners.
Examples
-
They walked slowly and fell behind the old man.
Fiction book (1996) -
But he's drained his reserves, and he even fell behind on his office rent last summer, though he caught up the next month.
Academic text (2010) -
Don't fall behind.
-
Smoky looks back at him when he realizes that Wyatt has fallen behind.
Fiction book (1996) -
If you don't pay attention in class, you might fall behind in your studies.
-
As the project progressed, some team members began to fall behind on their tasks.
Synonyms
91
2.2
Move slowly and fall behind others
47
3.0
To fail to keep up with work or a schedule
24
3.0
To move or develop more slowly than others
17
3.6
To move to a position behind other players, for example to prepare a pass or to help defend
8
3.8
To move behind others in speed or progress
2
3.2
To fall behind others because you move or work more slowly
1
4.0
To move back from a place or position, often to a safer spot
To fall behind when moving with others
Antonyms
How Far
- Informal
46
4.1
2
3.2
2
3.5
91
2.2
Surface Forms
Morphology
The sense 'to not keep up' is directly derivable from combining 'fall' (to move down or drop) with 'behind' (in a less advanced or delayed position): together they describe moving into a less advanced position relative to others or a schedule. This composition follows a common motion + position pattern found across languages and in English phrasal verbs, so a B1 learner who knows both words will very likely understand the MWE.
Etymology
Fall behind comes from the picture of marching or hiking, where someone literally falls back and ends up behind the group because they must slow down or retreat, so it means 'to move back or retreat'.