What Does “Be behind sb” Mean?
“Be behind sb” means to support someone or to be late or slower compared to someone else. It can also mean owing money to someone.
Introduction
The phrase “be behind sb” is a common English expression with several meanings depending on the context. Most often, it means to support or back someone, showing agreement or help. Alternatively, it can mean being late, slower, or less advanced than someone else in progress or work. In financial contexts, it may also mean owing money to a person or organization. Understanding the different uses of “be behind sb” helps learners use it correctly in daily conversations and writing. This article explains the “be behind sb” meaning clearly and provides examples to help you master this useful phrase.
Quick Info Box
- Phrasal verb: Be behind somebody
- Type: Intransitive (mostly), can be transitive in financial contexts
- Level: B1 (Intermediate)
- Short meaning: To support someone, to be late, or to owe money
Structure (Grammar Rules)
“Be behind sb” is usually inseparable, meaning you cannot put words between “be” and “behind.” The structure is:
- Subject + be + behind + somebody
Examples:
- She is behind me in the project.
- They are behind us in the race.
When referring to owing money, it can be followed by what is owed:
- He is behind on his rent payments.
How to Use “Be behind sb”?
You use “be behind sb” when you want to say you support or back someone. It can also describe being slower or late compared to another person. In money matters, it shows a delay in payments. The phrase fits well in casual and formal situations.
For example, if you support a friend’s decision, you can say, “I am behind you 100%.” If you are slower in finishing work than a colleague, you might say, “I am behind her in completing the report.”
Examples
- My family is behind me in every decision I make.
- He is behind his classmates in math.
- The company is behind on its taxes this year.
- Are you behind me in the race or ahead?
- We are behind the new policy and will support it.
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect: I am behind with him in this project.
Correct: I am behind him in this project. - Incorrect: She is behind on her homework to the teacher.
Correct: She is behind on her homework.
Differences / Synonyms
Be behind sb vs Support sb: “Be behind sb” often means support but can also mean being late. “Support sb” only means to help or agree with someone.
Be behind sb vs Fall behind: “Be behind sb” can mean being slower than someone else, similar to “fall behind,” but “fall behind” focuses only on delay or losing progress.
Common Collocations
- Be behind a project
- Be behind a person/team
- Be behind schedule
- Be behind payments
- Be behind the plan
Related Phrasal Verbs
Here are related phrasal verbs of be behind sb:
Real-life Dialogue
Anna: Are you behind me in the presentation preparation?
John: Yes, I am a bit behind, but I will catch up soon.
Anna: Don’t worry, we are behind the same goal, and I support you.
Practice
Fill in the blanks with the correct form of “be behind”:
- She is ____ her team in the competition.
- We are ____ schedule because of the delay.
- He is ____ on his loan payments.
- Are you ____ me in finishing the task?
FAQs
- Q: Can “be behind sb” mean to support someone?
A: Yes, it often means to support or back someone. - Q: Is “be behind sb” used to describe being late?
A: Yes, it can mean being slower or later than someone. - Q: Can “be behind” refer to owing money?
A: Yes, it is used when someone is late in making payments. - Q: Is “be behind sb” separable?
A: No, it is usually inseparable. - Q: What is a common mistake with “be behind sb”?
A: Using incorrect prepositions like “behind with” instead of “behind.”
