Definition of Fall behind

1. Verb. Retreat.

Exact synonyms: Drop Off, Fall Back, Lose, Recede
Generic synonyms: Regress, Retrograde, Retrogress
Antonyms: Gain
Derivative terms: Receding, Recession

2. Verb. Hang (back) or fall (behind) in movement, progress, development, etc..
Exact synonyms: Dawdle, Fall Back, Lag
Generic synonyms: Follow
Specialized synonyms: Drag, Drop Back, Drop Behind, Get Behind, Hang Back, Trail
Derivative terms: Dawdler, Lag, Laggard, Lagger

Definition of Fall behind

1. Verb. (idiomatic intransitive) To be late (for a regular event) ¹

2. Verb. To be progressively below average in performance. ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Lexicographical Neighbors of Fall Behind

fall-run fish
fall-through
fall-throughs
fall about
fall about the place
fall all over
fall apart
fall armyworm
fall asleep
fall at the final hurdle
fall at the last hurdle
fall away
fall back
fall back on
fall back upon
fall behind (current term)
fall between two stools
fall board
fall by the wayside
fall cankerworm
fall dandelion
fall down
fall equinox
fall flat
fall for
fall foul
fall from grace
fall guy

Literary usage of Fall behind

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. The Theological and Literary Journal (1856)
"The North British for August does not fall behind its compeers in the variety and attractiveness of its subjects. The articles on the Life of Sir Isaac ..."

2. Miss Ellis's Mission by Mary Prudence (Wells) Smith (1886)
"... but the later way is, to take care always to place the better in people's way, and the sins will fall behind. Think you not so? JANUARY 6, 1883. ..."

3. The Discovery of the Science of Languages: In which are Shown the Real by Morgan Peter Kavanagh (1844)
"But it may now raise doubts in the reader, to tell him that such words as articles, do thus fall behind the nouns they precede, and coalesce with them; ..."

4. A Dictionary of English Synonymes and Synonymous Or Parallel Expressions by Richard Soule, George Holmes Howison (1891)
"Loiter, linger, saunter, fall behind, 2. Travail, parturition, childbirth, delivery. Labor, v. n 1. Toil, strive, drudge, work, exert drudgery. one's self, ..."

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