behind the times

Idioms  

1. Not keeping up with current fashion, methods, or ideas, as in Your accounting methods are behind the times. Charles Dickens used this idiom in Dombey and Son (1848): “I'm old-fashioned, and behind the Time.” [Mid-1800s]

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

behind the times

When he returned to the U.S. after eight years abroad, he remarked, “Europeans are 20 years behind the times, but working damned hard three days a week to catch up.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 6, 2026

"You'd think it's something small but a lot of clubs are still behind the times with that. It's about breaking those barriers and making sure spaces are available for mums," she added.

From BBC ● Jan. 11, 2026

Others criticized the institution he led for being far behind the times in general.

From Salon ● Apr. 21, 2025

Springfield: At the time, Australia was kind of behind the times, so at the show, when the Beatles came on it was like they were from Mars.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 12, 2024

We probably started painting our nails Immoral Coral after everybody sensible had already gone on to pink, but heck, at least we are all behind the times together.

From "The Poisonwood Bible" by Barbara Kingsolver