Performing an Action (Behind & Across): English Vocabulary List

to fail to keep up in work, studies, or performance

"Do not fall behind with your payments."

"If you do not do your homework every night you will quickly fall behind in all of your classes."

to develop or progress more slowly than someone or something else

"The team lags behind the others."

"The student has been lagging behind his classmates in mathematics and needs extra tutoring to catch up."

to be the true cause of something, often not immediately apparent

"What lies behind his decision?"

"We need to discover what motives lie behind his sudden and unexpected decision to resign from his prestigious position."

to remain in a location while others depart

"I will stay behind."

"Since I have a late flight, I'll stay behind at the hotel and meet you all at the airport tomorrow."

to discover, meet, or find someone or something by accident

"I came across a book."

"While cleaning out the attic, I unexpectedly came across some old family photographs."

to remain well-informed about a particular topic, subject, or situation

"Keep across all the latest developments."

"It is the manager's job to keep across all of the latest developments in the rapidly changing technology industry."

to present information clearly and effectively to others

"Put across your point clearly."

"The speaker struggled to put across his complex ideas to the audience in a way that they could easily understand."

to meet someone unexpectedly

"I ran across my friend."

"While browsing in the bookstore, I unexpectedly ran across my old college roommate whom I hadn't seen in years."

to not succeed in doing something within the expected or required time limit

"We got behind."

"Due to unexpected delays in production, the project is starting to get behind schedule."

to leave without taking someone or something with one

"Leave behind your worries now."

"The tourists accidentally left behind their camera at the hotel when they checked out."

to be clearly understood or communicated

"Did it get across?"

"The speaker's message about environmental conservation did not seem to get across effectively to the entire audience."