fall behind: meaning & examples
Open in appLanguage: English
Meanings:
- To become late or delayed in relation to a scheduled time or obligation (e.g., payments, deadlines, appointments).
Examples
BetaBecause of unexpected expenses, I fell behind on my credit card payments last month.
Because of unexpected expenses, I became late on my credit card payments last month.
Are you falling behind on your homework again, or have you managed to catch up?
Are you becoming late on your homework again, or have you managed to catch up?
She warned him not to fall behind on rent, or else he might face eviction.
She warned him not to become late on rent, or else he might face eviction.
- To lag in progress, performance, or development relative to others or to a required standard.
Examples
BetaOur company is falling behind competitors because we haven’t adopted new technologies fast enough.
Our company is lagging in progress compared to competitors because we haven’t adopted new technologies fast enough.
You’ll fall behind if you don’t study regularly and keep up with the course material.
You’ll lag in progress if you don’t study regularly and keep up with the course material.
The region fell behind in economic development after years of political instability.
The region lagged in economic development after years of political instability.
- To fail to keep up with someone in movement; to be physically left behind.
Examples
BetaDuring the hike, I fell behind the rest of the group because my boots were uncomfortable.
During the hike, I failed to keep up with the group because my boots were uncomfortable.
He was worried he might fall behind while running the marathon, so he trained extra hard.
He was worried he might be physically left behind while running the marathon, so he trained extra hard.
The slower cyclists fell behind on the steep hill, struggling to maintain the pace.
The slower cyclists were physically left behind on the steep hill, struggling to maintain the pace.
If you fall behind during the relay, it’s hard to make up the lost time.
If you are physically left behind during the relay, it’s hard to make up the lost time.
Examples:
- EN: Read them. You mustn't fall behind.ES: Tiene que ponerse al día.
- EN: Forward, don't fall behind.ES: ¡No se queden atrás! ¡Tito está allí, camaradas!
- EN: - Are you afraid I'll fall behind?ES: - ¿O temes que me atrase demasiado?
- EN: It's dangerous to fall behind, and what's more you're holding us up.ES: Es peligroso quedarse atrás y, además, nos está retrasando. He encontrado algunas flores.
- EN: Come along, come with here, guys, don't fall behind.ES: Véngase, véngase acá, muchachos, no se atrasen.
- EN: -Don't fall behind.ES: - No te retrase Chavita.
- EN: - If you do not fall behind, I'll scream.ES: - Si no le deja ir, gritaré. - Y yo le dispararé.
- EN: The others fall behind.ES: Los muchachos se están quedando demasiado atrás.
- EN: Don't fall behind.ES: No se queden atrás.
- EN: Every time his wife came to visit, he'd fall behind.ES: Cada vez que su mujer iba a verle, perdía la carrera.
- EN: He must go to a good school, or else he will fall behind in the real world.ES: Tiene que ir a una buena escuela, si no se quedará descolgado del mundo real.
- EN: - We are currently to fall behind!ES: Estamos llegando tarde otra vez.
- EN: If I fall behind, my house will be buried.ES: Si soy demasiado lenta, mi casa será sepultada por la arena.
- EN: I'm afraid we'll fall behind others.ES: Temo que lleguemos tarde.
- EN: Mustn't fall behind, you know.ES: No debe quedarse rezagada, ya sabes.
- EN: Read them. You mustn't fall behind.ES: Tiene que ponerse al día.
- EN: Forward, don't fall behind.ES: ¡No se queden atrás! ¡Tito está allí, camaradas!
Validation Count: 0
Sourced from Wiktionary
Source: Wiktionary