There was a little mouse behind the wardrobe, and when we moved it, it ran away.Había un ratoncito tras el armario y, cuando lo movimos, salió corriendo.

2. (responsible for)

a. detrás de

The secretary was behind the scam.La secretaria estaba detrás del timo.

b. tras

It seems two high-ranking officers are behind the coup.Al parecer dos altos mandos están tras el golpe de estado.

3. (less advanced than)

a. detrás de

Alexa is slightly behind Tracy in the overall season scores.Alexa está ligeramente detrás de Tracy en la puntuación global de la temporada.

b. atrás de

Gonzalez was behind Uribe in the polls, but he's catching up.González iba atrás de Uribe en las encuestas, pero lo está alcanzando.

c. a la zaga

Our team is behind all the rest this season.Nuestro equipo está a la zaga de los demás esta temporada.

d. tras

We're not behind them in the league table, we're ahead of them.Nosotros no vamos tras ellos en la clasificación de la liga, estamos por delante de ellos.

4. (related to time zone)

a. por detrás de

Seattle is three hours behind New York.Seattle está tres horas por detrás de Nueva York.

5. (supportive of)

This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.

no direct translation

I thought you were going to be behind my idea of hiring Carlos on an interim basis.Pensé que iban a respaldar mi idea de contratar a Carlos como empleado interino.

Why aren't you behind me on this proposal?¿Por qué no me apoyas con esta propuesta?

6. (to one's name or credit)

This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.

no direct translation

Anne has 25 years of teaching behind her.Anne tiene 25 años dando clases en su haber.

We have a lot of experience behind us.Tenemos mucha experiencia en nuestro haber.

An adverb is a word that describes a verb, an adjective, or other adverbs (e.g. to run quickly, very tired).

adverb

7. (to the rear)

a. atrás

The bus driver heard a noise and looked behind.El chofer oyó un ruido y miró atrás.

b. detrás

His dog was running along behind.Su perro venía corriendo detrás.

c. de cerca

Cecilia was nervous because the same black van had been following close behind for ten minutes.Cecilia estaba nerviosa porque la misma camioneta negra la había estado siguiendo de cerca por diez minutos.

8. (behind schedule)

a. atrasado

The renters are behind with their payments.Los inquilinos van atrasados en los pagos.

b. retrasado

The train is behind; let's go get something to eat.El tren viene retrasado; vamos a por algo de comer.

9. (related to time zone)

a. más atrás

Remember that Mexico City is 2 hours behind.Acuérdate que la Ciudad de México va dos horas más atrás.

A noun is a word referring to a person, animal, place, thing, feeling or idea (e.g. man, dog, house).

noun

10. (buttocks)

a. el trasero

(m) means that a noun is masculine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).

(M)

She slapped him on the behind.Le dio una palmada en el trasero.

b. la cola

(f) means that a noun is feminine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).

(F)

Nice behind!¡Linda cola!

behind

A preposition is a word that indicates the relationship between a noun and another word (e.g. He ran through the door.).

preposition

1. (general)

a. detrás de, tras

to be behind somebodyestar detrás de alguien

to follow close behind somebodyseguir de cerca a alguien

look behind youmira detrás de ti

to be behind scheduleir atrasado(a)

to put something behind onedejar algo atrás

let's put it all behind usolvidemos todo esto

she's ten minutes behind the leadersestá a diez minutos de la cabeza de la carrera

to be behind the timesno andar con los tiempos

the reasons behind somethinglos motivos de algo

what's behind all this?¿qué hay detrás de todo esto?

An adverb is a word that describes a verb, an adjective, or other adverbs (e.g. to run quickly, very tired).

adverb

2. (general)

a. atrás

from behindpor la espalda

to stay or remain behindquedarse

to leave something behinddejarse algo

to be behind with one's work/with the rentestar atrasado(a) en el trabajo/en el pago del alquiler

they are only three points behindestán a sólo tres puntos

A noun is a word referring to a person, animal, place, thing, feeling or idea (e.g. man, dog, house).

Noun

3. (colloquial)

a. el trasero

(m) means that a noun is masculine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).

(M)

(buttocks)

behind [bɪˈhaɪnd]

When behind is an element in a phrasal verb, eg fall behind, stay behind, look up the verb.

preposition

1 (to the rear of) detrás de

behind the door detrás de la puerta; look behind you! ¡cuidado atrás!; with his hands behind his back las manos en la espalda

2 (responsible for) detrás de

what's behind all this? ¿qué hay detrás de todo esto?

3 (less advanced than)

Hill is nine points behind Schumacher Hill tiene nueve puntos menos que Schumacher; we're well behind them in technology nos dejan muy atrás or estamos muy a la zaga de ellos en tecnología

4 (supporting)

his family is behind him tiene el apoyo de su familia

5 (in the past of)

it's all behind us now todo eso ha quedado ya atrás

6 (to one's credit)

she has four novels behind her tiene cuatro novelas en el haber

adverb

1 (in or at the rear) detrás; atrás

to come from behind venir desde atrás; to follow close behind seguir muy de cerca; to attack sb from behind atacar a algn por la espalda; to leave sth behind olvidar algo

2 (behind schedule)

to be a bit behind estar algo atrasadillo; to be behind with the rent tener atrasos de alquiler; to be behind with one's work estar atrasado en el trabajo

3 (less advanced)

Pepe won with Paco only two strokes behind ganó Pepe con Paco a solo dos golpes de distancia

noun

trasero (m)

Examples