fall behind

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fall behind

1. To not be as current with task or activity as one should or ideally would be. I fell behind with my schoolwork when I had the flu. I've fallen behind with that show—can you tell me what happened in the latest episode?

2. To be lacking in comparison to others' progress. If you've fallen behind the other people in your math class, you need to get a tutor—exams are coming up.

3. To move or otherwise act more slowly than someone else. I fell behind her early in the race and could just never catch up.

4. To not be up to date on one's current financial obligations. All of those medical bills have caused me to fall behind on the rent.

See also: behind, fall

fall behind

(in something) and fall behind (on something); fall behind (with something); get behind (in something); get behind (on something); get behind (with something) to lag behind schedule in some kind of work or some other scheduled activity. You are falling behind in your car payments. I tried not to get behind on them. Please don't fall behind with your payments. I won't fall behind again.

See also: behind, fall

fall behind

(someone or something) to lag behind someone or something. You have fallen behind everyone else in class. Our production fell behind that of the other production line.

See also: behind, fall

fall behind

(with something) Go to fall behind (in something).

See also: behind, fall

fall behind

Also, get behind.

1. Lag, fail to keep up, as in You really must keep up with the others; if you fall behind you could get lost. [First half of 1500s]

2. Be financially in arrears, as in He fell behind in his payments. [Mid-1800s]

See also: behind, fall

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 2003, 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

fall behind

1. To fail to keep up a pace; lag behind: Despite a strong performance in the beginning, he fell behind in the second half of the race and finished last.

2. To fail to maintain a desired level of performance: She missed two classes and fell behind in her reading assignments.

3. To be financially in arrears: After losing my job, I fell behind on the mortgage payments.

See also: behind, fall

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References in periodicals archive ?

New Zealand-based Kiwibank has said that its SAP-based core banking system project is falling behind schedule.

New Zealand's Kiwibank says core banking project falling behind schedule

"This matters for manufacturing and for the UK because manufacturers are increasingly concerned about falling behind competitors.

Firms 'doing everything to keep on competing'

However, this falls to 84% for graduates from Sunderland University and 83.3% for Teesside graduates, which also sees the two institutions falling behind their benchmarks of 89.3% and 89.5% respectively.

City's uni best for landing jobs

Summary: Literacy standards in English schools are falling behind those in other countries, Ofsted's chief inspector has warned.

Ofsted chief's literacy warning

The Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce (RSA) warned that England risks falling behind other countries in the subject.

Maths teaching is not fit for purpose; A quarter of adults 'innumerate'

As it was, Boro managed fine without him, recording an emphatic 3-1 win with goals from Scott McDonald, Barry Robson and Marvin Emnes, despite falling behind to a fourth minute own goal from Steve McManus.

Swans keen to sign Bates

It shows that 44% of all five-year-olds in England are considered by their teachers to be falling behind in their development.

'Almost half of first years fall behind at school'

The CBI said the UK is facing increasing competition as a destination for business investment from countries like the US and China and risks falling behind if action is not taken.

UK needs to work harder to attract investment, says CBI

Messi struck two and saw a second-half penalty saved by Greek keeper Alexandrros Tzorvas as the home side shrugged off the shock of falling behind at the Nou Camp to score an emphatic victory.

MESSI LEADS BARCA ROUT

Battling Boldmere had to fightback from falling behind on three occasions on Saturday to eventually steal victory.

Never-say-die Boldmere fight on; BIRMINGHAM AFA

THE National Association of Citizens Advice Bureaux has tips to help owners falling behind on mortgages:

HOW TO KEEP YOUR HOUSE

Broadband penetration in Italy is falling behind other EU countries - report

Ten-man Binos departed Recreation Park with the three points despite falling behind after only a minute.

Football: Tomana the match; THE WINNER DIVISION 2

Her confidence and swagger bump up against a new boy who is as smart as she is, and attractive--oh, and she starts falling behind in trigonometry and has to ask for help from an acquaintance: that hurts.

Castellucci, Cecil. Boy proof

"Without -- testing, we do not know who is falling behind and who needs our help," said President Bush, as he appealed for more standardized testing of students.