Which sentence uses 'come across' correctly?

I came across an old photo while cleaning the attic

I came across the street to meet you

I came across an old photo while cleaning the attic

The bridge came across the river

Which sentence uses 'come across' correctly?

She comes across as very confident in interviews

He came across the finish line first

Which sentence uses 'come by' correctly?

Good jobs are hard to come by these days

The bus will come by this route

Good jobs are hard to come by these days

I come by the office every morning at 8

Which sentence uses 'come by' correctly?

Can you come by my house later for coffee?

The train came by the station too fast

She comes by the grocery store home

Which sentence uses 'come out' correctly?

The new iPhone will come out next month

I need to come out from the house now

The new iPhone will come out next month

Which sentence uses 'come out' correctly?

The truth finally came out after the investigation

The students came out to the classroom

Understanding 'Fall Short': Definition & Uses

“To strive without fear of failure, for even when we fall short, we build the bridges to our future triumphs.”

📖 Definition

To fall short means to fail to meet an expected or required level or standard, often despite making an effort.

📝 Grammar Info

Separable

The verb and particle cannot be split.

Neutral

Appropriate for both formal and informal contexts.

Transitive

Yes

It requires an object to receive the action.

📊 Conjugation Table

Tense	Form	Example
Present Simple	fall short	The team falls short of expectations every season.
Past Simple	fell short	Last year, the project fell short due to budget cuts.
Present Continuous	falling short	They are consistently falling short of their sales targets.
Present Perfect	have fallen short	We have fallen short of the goal once again.

💡 When to Use

Express unmet expectations

Use when goals or standards have not been achieved despite attempts. Often reflects disappointment or the need for improvement.

Example: “The results fell short of our expectations.”

Highlight failure in performance

Employ when discussing inadequate performance in comparison to standards. Useful in performance reviews or evaluations.

Example: “His performance fell short on several occasions.”

Discuss missed targets

Apply when numerical, financial, or measurable objectives aren’t met. Often seen in business and economics contexts.

Example: “The profits fell short of last year's numbers.”

⚠️ Common Mistakes

Missing object

❌ Wrong: She often falls short.

✅ Correct: She often falls short of expectations.

💡 Tip: Always include what is falling short of.

Incorrect tense

❌ Wrong: They fall short yesterday.

✅ Correct: They fell short yesterday.

💡 Tip: Match the tense to the time frame of the event.

Wrong preposition

❌ Wrong: The team fell short on their goals.

✅ Correct: The team fell short of their goals.

💡 Tip: Use 'of' rather than 'on' to indicate what is not achieved.

Practice

FALL SHORT – IN PRACTICE

Study Method Proposal

Listen and repeat the audio as many times as needed to improve your pronunciation
Use the audio as a dictation exercise, trying to write what you hear and understand
Create a new sentence following the structure of the example sentences

Examples in Context

1
Listen to example

Despite significant efforts, the proposal fell short of securing approval.
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2
Listen to example

Many new products fall short in terms of durability and reliability.
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3
Listen to example

Their attempt to win the match fell short due to lack of preparation.
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Synonyms & Antonyms

Synonyms

underperform disappoint

Antonyms

exceed

Quick Check

Complete the sentence with the correct phrasal verb:

“The speech ___ of motivating the crowd.”

fall

fall short

fell quickly

falls behind

❓ Frequently Asked Questions about Fall Short

What is the origin of fall short?

The phrase 'fall short' originates from archery where an arrow didn't reach its intended target. Over time, it evolved to describe any attempt that doesn't meet expectations.

Can fall short be used in formal and informal contexts?

'Fall short' is versatile, fitting both formal and informal usage. It's effectively used in business reports and casual conversations to denote unmet expectations.

What is the difference between fall short and underperform?

'Fall short' often implies unmet standards, whereas 'underperform' directly relates to inadequate performance. While similar, 'fall short' suggests potential despite failure.

Browse All Tiny House Phrasal Verbs

About the Author

Alessandra Nóbrega

History teacher who fell in love with English! This passion led me to specialize in languages and work on bilingual education projects. With 37 years in education, I believe learning should be meaningful – not just memorization.

Learn more about my journey