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Phrase(s): come from behind
to advance from a losing position. (Alludes to being behind in a score or in a race.) • Our team came from behind to win the game. • The horse I bet on came from behind and almost placed second., Phrase(s): come (up) from behind
to advance in competition; to improve one’s position relative to the positions of other things or people. • The horse was working hard to come up from behind. • Lee was losing in the election, but he began to come from behind in the last week.
McGrawhill's American Idioms And Phrasal Verbs
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Also, come up from behind. Advance from the rear or from a losing position, as in You can expect the Mets to come from behind before the season is over, or The polls say our candidate is coming up from behind. This idiom, which originated in horse rac ing, was first transferred to scores in various sports and later to more general use.
American Heritage Idioms