FALLING BEHIND Meaning and
Definition
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"Falling behind" refers to the act or state of lagging, failing to keep pace, or losing ground in relation to others or a predetermined standard. It often conveys a sense of not being able to maintain an expected level or falling short of a desired position or progress.
In various contexts, "falling behind" can be used to describe an individual, group, or organization's inability to meet established objectives, deadlines, expectations, or benchmarks. This could be due to factors such as a lack of resources, skills, knowledge, motivation, or effort. Emphasizing the comparative aspect, it suggests that others are advancing or achieving while the subject experiences a decline or lack of progress.
Economically, "falling behind" typically refers to a situation where a region, industry, or country is failing to keep up with the overall growth or development of others, resulting in a relative decline in its position or economic well-being. Similarly, regarding education, it signifies a student's or a group's failure to maintain an expected level of academic performance compared to peers. In sports and competitions, "falling behind" signifies a participant's inability to keep up with the leading competitors or teams.
Overall, "falling behind" conveys a notion of being in a disadvantageous position, not meeting expectations, or failing to progress at a desired pace, ultimately suggesting the need for action, improvement, or catching up to prevent further decline or loss.
Common Misspellings for FALLING BEHIND
- falling behiod
- falling behint
- falling behinl
- fawlingbehind
- fallingbeehind
- f alling behind
- fa lling behind
- fal ling behind
- fall ing behind
- falli ng behind
- fallin g behind
- falling b ehind
- falling be hind
- falling beh ind
- falling behi nd
- falling behin d
Etymology of FALLING BEHIND
The phrase "falling behind" is primarily derived from the word "fall", which originated from the Old English word "feallan".
In its original sense, "fall" referred to the act of dropping or descending, often due to gravity. Over time, it gained metaphorical and figurative meanings, including a decline or a decrease in status, position, or pace.
The addition of "behind" emphasizes the idea of lagging or not keeping up with the progress or expected level. Hence, "falling behind" suggests a person or group losing ground or not maintaining the same level or pace as others.
