Fall apart
1. Break into pieces
That chair is so old, it looks like it’ll fall apart if anyone sits on it.
This chair has fallen apart.
2. Become emotionally upset and incapable of behaving normally
After Tanya lost her job and her husband left her, she completely fell apart.
Fall back
Retreat (especially in the case of an army)
The general ordered the soldiers to fall back to a safer location.
Fall back on
Have the option to use something if other plans are not successful.
If I don’t get this job, I still have my freelance work to fall back on.
Fall behind
Not make sufficient progress to stay on schedule.
We fell behind on the project and finished it ten days late.
Fall down / fall over
When a person or structure falls to the ground.
The skaters fell down in the middle of their performance.
The skaters fell down in the middle of their performance.
The ladder fell over when he tried to climb it.
The ladder fell over when he tried to climb it.
Fall for
1. Fall in love, develop a romantic attraction to someone
I think I’m falling for Jeremy – I just can’t stop thinking about him!
Fall for = Fall in love
2. Believe a lie or a story that is false
Vivian told the teacher that she missed class because her dog was sick – and the teacher fell for it.
Fall off
When something detaches from a bigger object.
My glasses fell off when I bent down to pick up the paper from the floor.
The wheels have fallen off the bike!
Fall out
1. To fall out of some enclosed space (a box, a basket, a car, a train)
Excuse me – is this your wallet? It fell out of your pocket.
2. To have an argument with someone and then be angry with each other
John left the company after falling out with his business partner.
Note: You can also say “have a fallout” – or “have a falling out” – “I had a falling out with my best friend, and now she’s not speaking to me.”
Fall through
Be unsuccessful (usually used with “plans”)
We were going to travel to Russia, but our plans fell through because we couldn’t get a visa.
Learn more: Different types of phrasal verbs + examples
Quiz: Phrasal Verbs with FALL
Learn Phrasal Verbs the Natural Way
If you want to be fluent in English, then you need to know phrasal verbs! However, most traditional English textbooks don’t focus on them.
The Phrasal Verbs in Conversation Course will teach you 500 common phrasal verbs in the context of everyday dialogues.
By listening to and reading the conversations, you’ll understand how each phrasal verb is used in spoken English – and there are plenty of quizzes and exercises for you to practice using the phrasal verbs in your own English.
