15 Phrasal Verbs with Fall in English (With Examples & Practice)

Many English learners feel confused when encountering phrasal verbs with fall. These verb combinations may look simple, but their meanings can change completely depending on context. Understanding how each phrasal verb works — including its grammar and usage — is essential for speaking and writing English naturally.

In this lesson, you’ll explore a clear, well-structured list of common phrasal verbs with fall, complete with pronunciation, meanings, grammar notes, and real-life examples. You’ll also find dialogues, exercises, and a downloadable PDF to help you practice and remember them.

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List of Common Phrasal Verbs with Fall

1. Fall about
2. Fall apart
3. Fall away
4. Fall behind
5. Fall down
6. Fall for
7. Fall in
8. Fall in with
9. Fall into
10. Fall off
11. Fall on
12. Fall out
13. Fall through
14. Fall under
15. Fall upon

Common Phrasal Verbs with Fall: Meanings & Examples

Fall about

🔊 Pronunciation: /fɔːl əˈbaʊt/

📖 Meaning: To laugh uncontrollably.

📝 Example: Everyone fell about laughing at his joke.

💡 Grammar Note: Type: Intransitive | Structure: Inseparable

🔄 Synonyms: Burst out laughing, Crack up

Fall apart

🔊 Pronunciation: /fɔːl əˈpɑːrt/

📖 Meaning:

• To break into pieces.
• To lose emotional control.

📝 Examples:

• The chair fell apart after years of use.
• She nearly fell apart after hearing the news.

💡 Grammar Note: Type: Intransitive | Structure: Inseparable

Fall away

🔊 Pronunciation: /fɔːl əˈweɪ/

📖 Meaning: To gradually lose support or interest.

📝 Example: Public support began to fall away after the scandal.

💡 Grammar Note: Type: Intransitive | Structure: Inseparable

Fall behind

🔊 Pronunciation: /fɔːl bɪˈhaɪnd/

📖 Meaning: To fail to keep up with progress, work, or study.

📝 Example: He fell behind in his studies due to illness.

💡 Grammar Note: Type: Intransitive | Structure: Inseparable

Fall down

🔊 Pronunciation: /fɔːl daʊn/

📖 Meaning:

• To drop to the ground.
• To fail or be inadequate.

📝 Examples:

• She fell down on the icy road.
• The plan fell down due to poor planning.

💡 Grammar Note: Type: Intransitive | Structure: Inseparable

Fall for

🔊 Pronunciation: /fɔːl fɔːr/

📖 Meaning:

• To be deceived.
• To develop romantic feelings.

📝 Examples:

• Don’t fall for online scams.
• He fell for her at first sight.

💡 Grammar Note: Type: Transitive | Structure: Inseparable

Fall in

🔊 Pronunciation: /fɔːl ɪn/

📖 Meaning: To collapse inward.

📝 Example: The roof may fall in if not repaired.

💡 Grammar Note: Type: Intransitive | Structure: Inseparable

Fall in with

🔊 Pronunciation: /fɔːl ɪn wɪð/

📖 Meaning: To join or agree with a group or idea.

📝 Example: She quickly fell in with her new classmates.

💡 Grammar Note: Type: Transitive | Structure: Inseparable

Fall into

🔊 Pronunciation: /fɔːl ˈɪntuː/

📖 Meaning:

• To enter unintentionally.
• To be classified as.

📝 Examples:

• He fell into a bad habit.
• This book falls into the science fiction category.

💡 Grammar Note: Type: Transitive | Structure: Inseparable

Fall off

🔊 Pronunciation: /fɔːl ɒf/

📖 Meaning:

• To detach.
• To decrease.

📝 Examples:

• The button fell off my coat.
• Sales have fallen off recently.

💡 Grammar Note: Type: Intransitive | Structure: Inseparable

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Fall on

🔊 Pronunciation: /fɔːl ɒn/

📖 Meaning:

• To be assigned as a responsibility.
• To occur on a specific date.

📝 Examples:

• The task will fall on the manager.
• The holiday falls on a Monday.

💡 Grammar Note: Type: Transitive | Structure: Inseparable

Fall out

🔊 Pronunciation: /fɔːl aʊt/

📖 Meaning:

• To drop from something.
• To stop being friends.

📝 Examples:

• The papers fell out of my bag.
• They fell out over money.

💡 Grammar Note: Type: Intransitive | Structure: Inseparable

Fall through

🔊 Pronunciation: /fɔːl θruː/

📖 Meaning: To fail or not happen.

📝 Example: The deal fell through at the last minute.

💡 Grammar Note: Type: Intransitive | Structure: Inseparable

Fall under

🔊 Pronunciation: /fɔːl ˈʌndər/

📖 Meaning: To be classified within a group.

📝 Example: This rule falls under company policy.

💡 Grammar Note: Type: Transitive | Structure: Inseparable

Fall upon

🔊 Pronunciation: /fɔːl əˈpɒn/

📖 Meaning: To experience something unexpectedly.

📝 Example: A great responsibility fell upon her.

💡 Grammar Note: Type: Transitive | Structure: Inseparable

Dialogue Examples with Phrasal Verbs with Fall

Dialogue 1

A: You look stressed lately. Is everything okay at work?

B: Not really. I fell behind on my projects after getting sick last month.

A: That sounds tough. Are you managing to catch up now?

B: Yes, slowly. I’ve been working extra hours so I don’t fall behind again.

Dialogue 2

A: What happened to the business deal you were so excited about?

B: Unfortunately, it fell through at the last minute because the investor backed out.

A: That’s disappointing. At least you didn’t fall for any risky promises.

B: True. I’ve learned not to fall for offers that sound too good to be true.

Exercises with Answers

Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks with the correct phrasal verb with fall.

1. The plan didn’t work and ______ at the last moment.
2. He ______ for the fake message and shared his personal information.
3. She ______ in her studies after missing several classes.
4. The old chair ______ when he sat on it.
5. Sales have ______ since the price increase.

Exercise 2: Choose the correct answer.

1. If you stop practicing, you may ______ your classmates.
   • a) fall for
   • b) fall behind
   • c) fall off
2. The agreement was canceled, so the deal ______.
   • a) fell apart
   • b) fell through
   • c) fell under
3. Be careful not to ______ online scams that promise easy money.
   • a) fall into
   • b) fall for
   • c) fall away
4. After the accident, public trust began to ______.
   • a) fall away
   • b) fall out
   • c) fall on
5. If the roof isn’t repaired soon, it may ______ during the storm.
   • a) fall in
   • b) fall off
   • c) fall through

Answer Key

Exercise 1:

• 1. fell through
• 2. fell for
• 3. fell behind
• 4. fell apart
• 5. fallen off

Exercise 2:

• 1. b) fall behind
• 2. b) fell through
• 3. b) fall for
• 4. a) fall away
• 5. a) fall in 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: Is “fall behind” used for appointments?
A: No. Fall behind is used to talk about ongoing progress, such as work, studies, or long-term tasks. For a single appointment, native speakers usually say be late.

Q2: What is the difference between “fall apart” and “fall down”?
A: Fall apart means something breaks into pieces or someone loses emotional control, while fall down usually refers to physically dropping to the ground or a plan failing.

Q3: Can “fall for” have both positive and negative meanings?
A: Yes. Fall for can mean being tricked by someone (negative) or developing romantic feelings for someone (positive), depending on the context.

Conclusion

Mastering phrasal verbs with fall will help you sound more natural and confident in English. Practice them in context, review the examples, and try using them in your own sentences.

📥 Download the full PDF of phrasal verbs with fall and continue learning with:

Learn more:

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• Phrasal verbs for problem