drop behind
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Sense 1
Meaning · English
To suddenly do worse than others; to become out-of-date or to fail to keep up with others.
Where it’s used:
Used
American English
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Sense 2
Meaning · English
Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see stand, behind.
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “drop behind” mean?
To suddenly do worse than others; to become out-of-date or to fail to keep up with others.
Is “drop behind” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.