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1. To follow or remain physically close behind (someone or something). Her hair was so long that it trailed behind her when she walked. The runner jumped into the lead early on, with the rest trailing behind for the entire race. My passenger asked me to trail behind the limousine for the rest of the day.
2. To be in a secondary or inferior position (compared to someone or something else). We're trailing behind in the polls, but I still feel like we can win this election! Though their newest smartphone is the most technologically advanced on the market, it continues to trail behind its competitors in terms of sales. The team trailed behind by 17 points at halftime.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2015 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
trail behind(someone or something)
1. to follow or drag along behind someone or something. A long satin train trailed behind the bride. A long train trailed behind.
2. to move along behind someone or a group in a competition. Sally trailed behind the rest of the marathon runners. Roger trailed behind Dave during most of the race.
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.