Practice
Fall behind and fall out: meanings and use
Sign in to saveFall behind and fall out begin with the same verb, but they describe different problems. One is about not keeping up. The other is often about a relationship that has become unfriendly.
Tell the difference between fall behind and fall out, then choose the phrase that fits a delay or a disagreement.
Read and practice
Read the examples and try the written questions in this guide. Listening recordings are not available for this lesson yet.
Try the written questions
My friends fell out over a borrowed car. /maɪ frendz fel aʊt ˈəʊvə ə ˈbɒrəʊd kɑː/
The short answer
Fall behind means to stop keeping up with work, study, payments, or another person. Fall out usually means to argue and stop being friendly.
After two days away, I fell behind on my emails.
Why it works: The speaker has more emails than they can deal with at the usual pace.
4 more examples
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Jordan fell behind with the rent after missing two payments.
Fall behind with is common when someone has not paid money at the expected time.
Not this:Jordan
could not keep upwith the rent after missing two payments. What changes: This gives the same general idea, but fall behind is the usual short phrase for becoming late with payments. -
My friends fell out over a borrowed car.
Fall out over names the subject that caused an argument between people.
Not this:My friends
disagreed abouta borrowed car. What changes: Disagreed about is neutral. Fell out suggests that the disagreement harmed the friendship. -
The two coworkers fell out, but they spoke again the next week.
The phrase can stand alone when the reason for the argument is not important.
Not this:The two coworkers
had an argument, but they spoke again the next week. What changes: Had an argument describes one event. Fell out focuses on the unfriendly relationship that followed. -
One brick fell out of the wall during the storm.
Here fall out has a literal meaning: the brick came out of its usual place.
Not this:One brick
came loosefrom the wall during the storm. What changes: Came loose describes the physical change. Fell out adds that the brick left the wall.
Read the full guide
First, ask whether the sentence is about pace or a relationship. If someone has missed work or is late with a task, use fall behind. If two people have argued and are no longer friendly, use fall out.
Use fall behind for a missed pace
When a person cannot continue at the usual pace, they can fall behind. The phrase works with schoolwork, office tasks, a race, or a schedule. It tells the listener that there is a gap to catch up.
After two days away, I fell behind on my emails.
I had too many emails explains the amount. I fell behind on my emails explains that the usual work schedule has been missed.
You missed several classes and now have homework to complete. Which phrasal verb describes your situation?
You can say: I fell behind with my homework.
Choose the right preposition after fall behind
The preposition depends on the thing that is late. Use on for tasks and activities, such as fall behind on reports. Use with for payments, such as fall behind with the rent. You can also say fall behind in a class or subject.
Jordan fell behind with the rent after missing two payments.
Jordan fell behind on the rent is less usual. For unpaid bills or regular money that is owed, with is a useful choice.
Which preposition fits a person who has not completed their paperwork?
Say: The assistant fell behind on the paperwork.
Use fall out after an argument
When people fall out, they argue and stop being friendly for a time. The phrase is common for friends, relatives, coworkers, and neighbors. It describes the relationship after the argument rather than one event.
The two coworkers fell out, but they spoke again the next week.
The coworkers had an argument tells you about one event. The coworkers fell out tells you that the relationship became unfriendly.
Two friends argue about a plan and do not speak for several days. Which phrase fits?
You can say: They fell out.
Name the reason for the disagreement
Use fall out with to name the other person: She fell out with her sister. Use fall out over to name the cause: They fell out over money. The two patterns answer different questions.
My friends fell out over a borrowed car.
My friends fell out with a borrowed car is not correct because a car cannot be the other person in the disagreement.
Choose the word after fall out when the reason is a decision about money.
Use over: They fell out over money.
Notice the literal meaning of fall out
Fall out does not always describe people. An object can fall out of a bag, box, wall, or book. In this use, the object leaves the place where it was held. The words after out make the physical meaning clear.
One brick fell out of the wall during the storm.
One brick fell behind the wall would describe its position, not a brick leaving the wall.
A key drops from a pocket onto the floor. Which literal phrase can you use?
You can say: The key fell out of my pocket.
Before you go
Remember this
Choose fall behind for a missed pace: fall behind on homework or with rent. Choose fall out when people argue and become unfriendly: fall out with a friend or over a problem. Check the rest of the sentence for the kind of problem it describes.
Practice with the written examples
You can practice with the written questions in the Learn tab. Each answer includes an explanation.
Try the written questionsListening test not available yet
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Try the written questionsQuestions about "Fall behind and fall out: meanings and use"
What does fall behind mean?
Fall behind means that a person or thing is no longer keeping up with the expected pace. You can fall behind on work, in a class, with payments, or in a race. The phrase suggests that there is work, money, or distance to catch up.
Jordan fell behind with the rent after missing two payments.
Do I say fall behind on or fall behind with?
Use fall behind on for tasks and activities, such as emails, homework, and paperwork. Use fall behind with for money that is owed, such as rent or bills. Use the noun after the phrase to help you choose the preposition.
Jordan could not keep up with the rent after missing two payments.
What does fall out mean between people?
When people fall out, they have an argument and stop being friendly for a time. You can say that someone fell out with another person, or that two people fell out. The phrase often describes the effect of the disagreement on their relationship.
After two days away, I fell behind on my emails.
What is the difference between fall out with and fall out over?
Use fall out with before the person involved in the disagreement. Use fall out over before the reason for the argument. For example, two friends can fall out with each other over a borrowed car.
After two days away, I had too many emails.
Can fall out have a literal meaning?
Yes. An object can fall out of a bag, pocket, box, wall, or another place that held it. In this meaning, fall out describes the object leaving its usual place instead of a disagreement between people.
My friends fell out over a borrowed car.