Lexic.us

Definition of Fall behind

1. Verb. Retreat.

2. Verb. Hang (back) or fall (behind) in movement, progress, development, etc..

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, ..."

Other Resources: