What Does "fall behind" Mean?
The phrasal verb fall behind primarily means to fail to keep pace with others or to fail to meet a scheduled deadline. It suggests a gap between where one is and where one ought to be.
- Meaning: To move more slowly than others in a race or journey; to fail to do work or pay bills at the required time; or to be less successful than competitors.
- Compositionality: It is semi-idiomatic. While "fall" implies a drop in status or position and "behind" indicates a spatial or temporal lag, the combined meaning specifically refers to progress and schedules.
- Register: It is neutral. It is equally appropriate in casual conversation, sports journalism, business reports, and academic contexts.
How to Use It
- Grammatical pattern: It is an intransitive phrasal verb when used alone (e.g., "I am falling behind"). However, it becomes a three-part phrasal verb when followed by the prepositions with or on (e.g., "fall behind on payments").
- Typical objects: Common complements include schedules, rent, mortgage payments, schoolwork, or competitors.
- Separability: No, the components cannot be separated. You cannot say "fall the work behind."
- What sounds unnatural: Using the verb "drop" instead of "fall" (e.g., "drop behind" is less common in this specific sense) or using the wrong preposition for tasks.
Real-World Examples
These examples are sourced from fall behind on Ludwig.guru.
"They fall behind, 1-0." — nytimes.com
"The Pacific Time Zone will fall behind by another hour." — newyorker.com
"If you fall behind, try to catch up." — wikihow.com
"Once you fall behind, it just avalanches." — huffingtonpost.com
"They cannot fall behind Bayern." — theguardian.com
Similar Phrases and Alternatives
| Phrase |
Context |
| lag behind |
Emphasizes a slow speed or physical distance; often used in technical or economic contexts. |
| get bogged down |
Informal; implies being stuck or delayed by too much detail or difficulty. |
| lose ground |
Often used in competitive contexts like politics or business to show a loss of advantage. |
| trail |
Very common in sports and racing to describe being behind a leader. |
| be in arrears |
Highly formal; specifically used for late financial payments and legal debts. |
Common Mistakes
- Separability errors: Users sometimes try to place the object between the verb and the particle. Remember, fall behind is inseparable; you must say "fall behind on my bills," not "fall my bills behind."
- Wrong preposition for tasks: Learners often use the wrong preposition when specifying the area of delay, incorrectly saying 'fall behind in' instead of 'fall behind with' or 'fall behind on' for tasks.
- Confusing with "fall back": While "fall back" means to retreat or move to a previous position, fall behind specifically means failing to maintain a necessary speed or schedule.
Quick-Reference Summary
| Expression |
Meaning |
Grammatical Pattern |
Register |
| fall behind |
To fail to keep pace or meet a deadline |
Intransitive / Inseparable Phrasal Verb |
Neutral |
FAQs
Is fall behind a separable phrasal verb?
No, fall behind is an inseparable phrasal verb, meaning the verb and the particle must stay together. You cannot place an object between "fall" and "behind," regardless of whether you are using it in a literal or figurative sense.
What is the difference between falling behind and lagging behind?
While both mean failing to keep up, lag behind often implies a physical distance or a slower movement speed. In contrast, fall behind is more frequently used for schedules, deadlines, and conceptual progress, such as schoolwork or financial payments.
Which preposition should I use after fall behind to mention a specific task?
Learners often use the wrong preposition when specifying the area of delay, incorrectly saying 'fall behind in' instead of fall behind with or fall behind on for tasks. For example, you should say "I have fallen behind on my mortgage" or "She is falling behind with her assignments."