What does "fall behind" mean?
What it means: To fail to keep up with a schedule, level, or pace expected of you."I fell behind with my coursework and had to catch up.""The project is falling behind schedule.""Don't fall behind on your payments.""Several students are falling behind the rest of the class."What it implies: The e...
What it means
To fail to keep up with a schedule, level, or pace expected of you.
"I fell behind with my coursework and had to catch up."
"The project is falling behind schedule."
"Don't fall behind on your payments."
"Several students are falling behind the rest of the class."
What it implies
The expectation existed; you've failed to meet it. It implies a gap that needs closing.
Fall behind on vs fall behind with
- British English: "I've fallen behind with the rent." (behind with a task)
- American English: "I've fallen behind on the rent."
Not separable
Object follows behind:
"Fall behind the others." β / "Fall the others behind." β
Opposite
Keep up or stay on track:
"I'm managing to keep up with the workload."
"We're still on track to deliver on time."
Register
Neutral, common in academic, professional, and personal contexts.
What does "fall behind" mean?
To fail to keep up with a schedule, level, or pace expected of you.
"I fell behind with my coursework and had to catch up."
"The project is falling behind schedule."
"Don't fall behind on your payments."
"Several students are falling behind the rest of the class."
Is "fall behind" formal or informal?
Neutral, common in academic, professional, and personal contexts.
Phrasal verbs are one of the hardest parts of English to master.
LLH Tutor explains them in plain language, so you know exactly when and how to use each one.
Save to your vocabulary