behind on
36
3.7
- phrasal verb
- /bɪˈhaɪnd ɑn/
- US
:
atrasado en
- You would never want to fall behind on your obligations and fall into debt.
- behind on payments
- behind on rent
- behind on mortgage payments
But yeah, I'm a little behind on my appointment.
- But yeah, I'm a little behind on my appointment.
- I was concerned because I was behind on my, on my truck payment.
- I'm like, I'm behind on this, but I don't get discouraged.
- I think, yeah, maybe we were a little behind on on technological stuff.
- They're they're not behind, OK, so they're not behind on payments.
- And that's, you know, law enforcement is way behind on that, especially at the lower levels.
- Even though they're quote behind on AI in that race, they're still ahead on the data.
- So yeah, I, I get the, the difference between or the, the, the, the, I should say, being behind on things.
- Nurses and hospitals and A&E; and things, Yeah, granted, but I think mental health, they're very they're behind on mental health.
- I'm a little bit behind, like I'm filming just fine, but I'm a little bit behind on the and on the timing of when you guys are going live.
- The European Union is also falling behind on its aid promises.
- Just like on the wealth transfer path, you don't want to be left behind on AI.
Examples
-
I have no insurance and am behind on loan payments.
Fiction book (1995) -
Hey, I know we're a little behind on the bill.
-
I was concerned because I was behind on my, on my truck payment.
-
I was like, why am I so far behind on all of my work?
-
How long have you been behind on the bills?
-
As you know, you are behind on your mortgage.
-
Your mother got behind on the payments.
-
See, the thing is... you're two months behind on the rent now.
Fiction book (2002) -
They were behind on their mortgage payments.
-
He fell behind on his payments after losing his job.
Synonyms
∞
1.0
After the usual or planned time
103
2.7
Not done, paid, or returned by the expected time
4
7.4
Being late paying money you owe
Late in doing something, especially in paying money you owe
Having a lot of work waiting to be done
Antonyms
How Current
Surface Forms
Morphology
The adjective 'behind' (delayed or in a less advanced position) combined with the preposition 'on' (marking the domain or topic, e.g., 'on my homework') yields a directly derivable meaning of being delayed with respect to tasks. This compositional pattern is common across languages and follows regular English prepositional attachment, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents will likely infer the MWE's meaning.
Etymology
Behind on comes from the simple image of a race or a queue: you are physically behind other people while a task, bill, or message is still on your to-do list. So, to be behind on something means to be 'late' or 'not up to date' with it.