fall behind with — not keep up with tasks, payments, or work
phrasal verbB1IELTS 5+neutralcommon
to not do something as quickly as you should, so that you have more to do or owe than planned.
Say it like a native
Textbook I have become delinquent with my rental payments.
Native I've fallen behind with the rent.
'Delinquent with payments' is legal/formal; 'fall behind with' is the everyday phrase.
Pattern: fall behind with + noun (e.g. work, payments, homework)
In use
- After being sick for a week, I fell behind with my assignments.daily life
- If students fall behind with their homework, it can be difficult to catch up before exams.IELTS speaking
Common mistake
✗ I fell behind of my work.
✓ I fell behind with my work.
'Fall behind WITH' (or 'on') — not 'of'.
Common collocations
fall behind with— the rent, your work, payments, schoolwork
Don't confuse it
Not the same as 'give up' (to stop trying) or 'miss out' (to not get something). 'Fall behind with' means you are late or have more to do, but you have not stopped completely.