behind the times

Idioms and Phrases

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]

Example Sentences

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

Our government is at least 50 years behind the times for a lot of things - especially other countries throughout the world having better representation.

From BBC

“Is it true that we are behind the times in terms of housing?” asked Nick Pilch, 63, who serves on the executive committee of the club’s San Francisco Bay chapter.

From Los Angeles Times

Sometimes a news story seems so behind the times that I find myself double-checking the date.

From Seattle Times

Silicon Valley Congressman Ro Khanna, an ascending voice in the Democratic Party’s progressive wing, said the federal government is behind the times and can’t effectively regulate new economic powers of the information age with 19th-century tools.

From Seattle Times