English Reference

Phrasal verb

get behind with

Definition

phrasal verb. to fail to do work or pay bills on time, so you have more to do later.

phrasal verb. to fail to make progress or payments according to a schedule, resulting in an accumulated backlog or debt.

Examples

“I often get behind with my emails during busy weeks.”

“If you get behind with the rent, the landlord might ask you to leave the apartment.”

“The department began to get behind with the processing of applications after the new regulations were introduced, leading to a significant administrative bottleneck.”

Examples

simple

“I often get behind with my emails during busy weeks.”

contextual

“If you get behind with the rent, the landlord might ask you to leave the apartment.”

complex

“The department began to get behind with the processing of applications after the new regulations were introduced, leading to a significant administrative bottleneck.”

Usage

usually followed by a noun representing a task, a payment, or a schedule.

Teaching tip

contrast with 'fall behind with', which is a near-synonym; 'get behind' often implies the state of being late, while 'fall behind' emphasizes the process of losing pace.

Pitfall

I got behind of my work.

I got behind with my work.

the correct preposition to link the state to the task is 'with', not 'of'.

Phrasal verb

Particles

behind with

Separability

inseparable

Pattern

get + behind + with + object

Synonyms

fall behindbe late withlag

Antonyms

Grammar

This entry

Level
B2 · Upper Intermediate
Updated

Scan code

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English Reference