fall into arrears

Meaning

This expression means to fall behind on regular, scheduled payments, such as rent, mortgage, or bills. It is a formal term typically used by financial institutions, landlords, or legal professionals to describe overdue debt.

Examples

• If you fall into arrears with your mortgage payments, the bank may take legal action.

  If you fall into arrears with your mortgage payments, the bank may take legal action.

• The tenant fell into arrears after losing his job unexpectedly.

  The tenant fell into arrears after losing his job unexpectedly.

• We need to make sure we don't fall into arrears on our utility bills this winter.

  We need to make sure we don't fall into arrears on our utility bills this winter.

• Once you fall into arrears, it can be extremely difficult to catch up on interest charges.

  Once you fall into arrears, it can be extremely difficult to catch up on interest charges.

• The company fell into arrears with its suppliers, damaging its business reputation.

  The company fell into arrears with its suppliers, damaging its business reputation.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ He fell into arrears of his rent.

  ✓ He fell into arrears with his rent.

  The prepositions 'with' or 'on' are used after 'arrears', not 'of'.

• ✗ The account is in an arrear.

  ✓ The account is in arrears.

  'Arrears' is almost always used in the plural form.

Related Expressions

Practice

• If you ___ with your rent, the landlord has the right to issue an eviction notice.

  💡 become late with payments

  Show answer

  fall into arrears

• She managed her budget carefully to ensure she would never ___.

  💡 get behind on bills

  Show answer

  fall into arrears