Fall behind

fall behind & falls behind falling behind fell behind fallen behind

1. fall behind p.v. When you are in a group that is walking, running, driving, and so on, and they move ahead of you because you are moving more slowly than the others, you fall behind. Keep up is the opposite of fall behind.

Alfonso and Tom are walking so fast that I've fallen behind.

I was supposed to be following Linda to the party, but I fell behind and got lost.

1. fall behind (in) p.v. When you are in a group that is studying, working, and so on, and they learn faster or get more work done because you are learning or working more slowly than the others, you fall behind or fall behind in your work, studies, and so on. When you do not complete work as fast as it was originally planned and expected, you fall behind schedule. Get behind is similar to fall behind. Keep up is the opposite of fall behind.

Timmy was sick last semester, and he fell behind in his studies.

The sales manager wanted to know why I had fallen behind the rest of the department.

The building project will fall behind schedule if the construction workers go on strike.

3. fall behind (in) p.v. When you do not make the regular payments you are required to make, you fall behind or fall behind in your payments.

When I lost my job, I fell behind in my mortgage payments.

Don't fall behind in your payments, or your car will be repossessed.