fall further behind

USAGE SUMMARY

"fall further behind" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use this phrase when talking about someone or something having difficulty keeping up with others to imply an increasing gap. For example, "The students who failed to study for the test fell further behind when it came time to take it."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

Every summer that children spend without learning, they fall further behind, and the losses add up.

The New York Times

The Bundesliga has to be careful not to fall further behind, I think.

The Guardian - Sport

"Do the right thing and fall further behind," said Mr. Joseph, a big man with a soft voice.

The New York Times

Every day children fall further behind in these parts of the country is a day too long.

The Guardian - Opinion

Those who are language-poor in early childhood get relatively poorer, and fall further behind, while the verbally rich get richer.

The New York Times

Even if the Yankees struggle over the next 10 days and fall further behind, it is hard to imagine Cashman giving up and not doing anything.

The New York Times - Sports

"If they begin to use lower growth assumptions in order to ensure their retirement, they'll fall further behind and become even more discouraged".

The New York Times

"If we didn't do something like this, we would fall further behind".

Forbes

The UK should be trying to catch up, not fall further behind," he commented.

BBC

Those without it fall further behind, creating a larger income gap.

TechCrunch

This in turn causes them to fall further behind, isolating them further, and so on in a self-perpetuating cycle.

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "fall further behind" to express a progressive decline in comparison to a benchmark or another entity. It implies a widening gap over time. For example, "If the company doesn't invest in new technology, it will fall further behind its competitors."

Common error

Avoid using "fall further behind" when you simply mean to state a current отставание without implying a worsening trend. Instead, use "is behind" or "lags behind" to describe a static state. For example, avoid saying "The project will fall further behind schedule" when it's already significantly delayed; instead, say "The project is behind schedule."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "fall further behind" functions as a dynamic descriptor, indicating a process of progressive отставание. Ludwig’s examples illustrate its use in diverse contexts, from education and sports to economics and technology. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

58%

Formal & Business

18%

Science

10%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "fall further behind" is a versatile and grammatically sound expression used to describe a progressive отставание across various fields. According to Ludwig, the phrase is correct and usable in written English. Its prevalence in news, business, and scientific contexts highlights its broad applicability. To avoid misuse, ensure it genuinely reflects a worsening trend rather than just a static отставание. By understanding its nuances, writers can effectively convey the risk of lagging behind in an increasingly competitive world.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

lag behind increasingly

This alternative emphasizes the gradual and continuous nature of the отставание.

lose more ground

This phrase highlights the idea of losing advantage or progress in comparison to others.

slip further down

This option suggests a decline in ranking or position relative to others.

get left further behind

This alternative emphasizes the aspect of being neglected or overtaken by others.

recede further

This suggests a gradual movement away from a leading position.

decline relatively more

Highlights a comparative decrease in status or performance.

fall increasingly short

Focuses on the growing gap between the expected level and the actual achievement.

trail further behind

Emphasizes the idea of following at an increasing distance.

be increasingly outpaced

Highlights the faster progress of others leading to a greater difference.

drift further back

Implies a gradual and often unintentional movement towards a less favorable position.

FAQs

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

You can use "fall further behind" to describe a situation where someone or something is losing ground compared to others. For example, "If we don't invest in education, our students will "lag further behind" their peers internationally."

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

Alternatives to "fall further behind" include "lose more ground", "slip further down", or "get left further behind", depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "fallen further behind"?

Yes, "fallen further behind" is the past participle form of the phrase and is grammatically correct. You can use it in perfect tenses, such as "They have "fallen further behind" due to lack of resources."

What's the difference between "fall further behind" and "lag behind"?

"Fall further behind" implies a progressive worsening of a situation, while "lag behind" simply indicates a current отставание. "If we don't innovate, we will "fall further behind". " vs. "Our country "lags behind" in technological development."