fall further and further behind

USAGE SUMMARY

'fall further and further behind' is correct and can be used in written English.
It is a way of expressing that a person or thing is being left in the dust in some way. Example sentence: As technology advances, people who don't keep up with the changes will fall further and further behind.

✓ Grammatically correct

Education

Economics

General Discussion

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

30 human-written examples

All of this, she argues, means that pupils fall further and further behind, through no fault of their own.

The Guardian

Tonight you sit at home in your living room frustrated that you play by the rules, you pay the taxes, you do the hard things to raise your family, yet you feel like America's generosity is being taken advantage of and that you're turning out to fall further and further behind".

The Guardian

And we fall further and further behind".

Huffington Post

Each year, we fall further and further behind and we must do something about it.

Los Angeles Times

"After much thought and deliberation, I have decided that I cannot sit back and watch working Hoosiers fall further and further behind," he said.

HuffPost

He is going to fall further and further behind.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

30 human-written examples

"He had a wonderful teacher, but he was falling further and further behind".

The New York Times - Health

"We just saw them falling further and further behind," he said.

The New York Times

"They see poor and disenfranchised youth falling further and further behind," according to the study, by Hart Research Associates, a Democratic firm.

The New York Times

Then, she said in an interview, she learned that "while most preemies eventually catch up, Cutler was falling further and further behind".

The New York Times - Health

And Labor promised more money to schools too, in response to the very convincing evidence in the Gonski report that disadvantaged students and disadvantaged schools were falling further and further behind, evidence that has been reinforced by more recent reports.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "fall further and further behind", consider adding context to explain the cause of the decline, thus strengthening the overall message.

Common error

Avoid using "fall further and further behind" without providing context. Ensure the sentence clearly explains why the subject is declining relative to others. Without context, the phrase lacks impact and can be misinterpreted.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "fall further and further behind" functions as a verb phrase indicating a progressive decline or loss of position relative to others. Ludwig examples illustrate its use in various contexts, emphasizing a continuous worsening of status.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

25%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "fall further and further behind" is a common and grammatically correct way to describe a progressive decline relative to others. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase effectively conveys a sense of continuous worsening, applicable in various contexts from education to economics. While suitable for both formal and informal settings, context is crucial to ensure clarity. Consider alternatives like "lag behind progressively" or "lose ground incrementally" to fine-tune your message. Remember to clarify the cause of the decline for maximum impact.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

fall increasingly behind

Similar meaning, focuses on the increasing gap.

fall behind more and more

Emphasizes the continuous and increasing nature of falling behind.

lag behind progressively

Highlights the gradual nature of falling behind.

lose ground incrementally

Emphasizes the step-by-step nature of the decline.

decline relatively

Focuses on the comparative decrease in status or position.

slip further back

Suggests a loss of previously gained progress.

be outstripped gradually

Highlights the process of being overtaken.

get left in the dust

An idiomatic expression indicating being outpaced.

recede in comparison

Suggests a relative decline when compared to something else.

widen the gap gradually

Focuses on the gap between two entities.

FAQs

How can I use "fall further and further behind" in a sentence?

Use "fall further and further behind" to describe a gradual decline in comparison to others. For instance, "If students don't practice regularly, they will "fall further and further behind" their classmates."

What are some alternatives to "fall further and further behind"?

Alternatives include "lag behind progressively", "lose ground incrementally", or "decline relatively" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

What does it mean to "fall further and further behind"?

To "fall further and further behind" means to progressively lose ground or make less progress compared to others, leading to an increasing gap in skills, status, or achievement.

Is "fall further and further behind" formal or informal?

"Fall further and further behind" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts. Its appropriateness depends more on the surrounding vocabulary and sentence structure.