lag behind — to move or develop more slowly than others; to fail to keep up with the pace or progress of others
Part of speech: NOUN
Definition: to move or develop more slowly than others; to fail to keep up with the pace or progress of others
Pronunciation (IPA): /læɡ bɪˈhaɪnd/
Example Sentences
- My smartphone is so old that it lags behind even my grandmother's phone in processing speed.
- The company's sales lagged behind their ambitious targets for the third quarter.
- Despite studying hard, Tom always lags behind his twin sister in math.
lag behind
NOUN[/læɡ bɪˈhaɪnd/]
to move or develop more slowly than others; to fail to keep up with the pace or progress of others
The tired runner started to lag behind the pack in the final lap.
When your legs drag behind and spirits flag behind, you still lag behind but never give up!
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🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
The word 'lag' derives from Scandinavian languages, originally meaning 'to walk slowly.' 'Behind' comes from Old English 'behindan,' meaning 'at the back of' or 'to the rear.' The combination of these two words evolved to mean 'to follow slowly from behind,' hence 'to fall behind or be left behind.'
Breakdown
lag (Scandinavian root meaning 'to move slowly') + behind (Old English 'behindan,' from 'be-' and '-hind,' meaning 'at the back of').
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“My smartphone is so old that it lags behind even my grandmother's phone in processing speed.”
“The company's sales lagged behind their ambitious targets for the third quarter.”
“Despite studying hard, Tom always lags behind his twin sister in math.”
“My diet progress is lagging behind my Netflix binge-watching progress by about 50 pounds.”
📚Related Words
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