Phrasal verbs with fall
Fall is about dropping, and its phrasal verbs are about things going down or going wrong: fall down, fall apart, fall behind, fall through, fall out with a friend.
Phrasal verbs with fall by level
- A1–A20—
- B11fall down
- B28fall down, fall apart, fall out
- C1–C24fall down, fall apart, fall for
Each meaning has its own level, from Oxford Learner’s Dictionaries and the Cambridge Dictionary, or our estimate (~) where they give none.
B1Common, with a clear meaning 1 meaning
- fall downfall downB1
drop to the ground from a standing position
She slipped on the ice and fell down.
B2Second meanings and more idiomatic ones 8 meanings
- fall downfall downB2
be in such bad condition that it may break and drop
That old barn is falling down.
- fall apartfall apartB2
break into pieces because it is old or badly made
My old trainers are falling apart.
- fall apartfall apartB2
stop working well, used for plans, systems or relationships
The deal fell apart at the last minute.
- fall outfall outB2
argue with someone and stop being friends
I fell out with my best friend over money.
- fall outfall outB2
come loose and drop, used for teeth, hair or things in a bag
My daughter’s first tooth fell out today.
- fall behindfall behindB2
move or progress more slowly than others
I was sick for a month and fell behind in maths.
- fall behindfall behindB2
not do work or pay money by the time you should
They fell behind with the rent and had to move.
- fall forfall for somethingB2
believe a trick or lie that is not true
My grandad nearly fell for a fake bank email.
C1–C2Less common and more formal 4 meanings
- fall downfall downC1
fail or be weak in one part
The plan falls down because it costs too much.
- fall apartfall apartC1
be so upset that you cannot cope with normal life
After her mum died, she fell apart for a while.
- fall forfall for somebodyC1
start to love someone, often quickly
She fell for a French student during her year abroad.
- fall throughfall throughC2
not happen, used for a plan or agreement
Our holiday plans fell through when the airline went bust.
Café orders
New friends
At the airport
Slova
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Phrasal verbs with fall that people mix up
Close in meaning, but not the same.
fall down or fall apart?
fall down: drop to the ground from a standing position.
fall apart: break into pieces, not drop to the ground.
fall apart: break into pieces because it is old or badly made.
fall through: a plan does not happen.
Phrasal verbs with fall: exercise with answers
Eight questions. Pick an answer to see if it is right and why.
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1I was sick for a month and _____ in maths.
Fall behind: move or progress more slowly than others. More on fall behind
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2I can’t _____ now. The kids need me.
Fall apart: be so upset that you cannot cope with normal life. More on fall apart
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3Our holiday plans fell _____ when the airline went bust. (not happen, used for a plan or agreement)
Fall through: not happen, used for a plan or agreement. More on fall through
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4Which is correct? (believe a trick or lie that is not true)
Fall for is not separable here: the object goes after it. More on fall for
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5The team played well but _____ in defence.
Fall down: fail or be weak in one part. More on fall down
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6His hair started to fall out when he was thirty. What does it mean here?
Fall out: come loose and drop, used for teeth, hair or things in a bag. More on fall out
Phrasal verbs with fall: FAQ
How many phrasal verbs with fall are there?
Dictionaries list many more, but these 6 are the ones learners meet most, with 13 meanings between them. Each has its own page with examples, common mistakes and a short quiz.
What are the most common phrasal verbs with fall?
Start with the A1 and A2 ones: fall down, fall apart, fall out, fall behind. Then the B1 ones, which are common in everyday conversation.
Which phrasal verbs with fall are separable?
None of them. The object, if there is one, always comes after the whole phrasal verb.