fall behind
To be slower than other people or than you should be.
Meanings
To make slower progress than others or than a required pace; to lose one's position in a group or competition.
"She fell behind the rest of the class after missing two weeks of school due to illness."
To fail to pay bills, rent, or debts on time.
"They fell behind on the mortgage after he lost his job, and eventually the bank repossessed the house."
To fail to keep up with work, tasks, or a schedule.
"If you fall behind on your assignments, it's very hard to catch up before the end of term."
Extremely common in academic, professional, and financial contexts. Often followed by 'with' (fall behind with payments) or 'on' (fall behind on coursework). Applies to schedules, payments, competitors, or peers.
Commonly used with
Forms
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Synonyms
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