trail behind
verb1
To increase or to succeed at a rate lower than (something else).
- Tech stocks trailed behind the overall market today.
- In many constituencies, over 30% of the second vote went to the AfD. The CDU and SPD trailed far behind.2025 February 25, Kristin Zeier, Gianna-Ciara Grün, “German election results explained in graphics”, in Deutsche Welle:
2
To follow (someone) slowly, usually surreptitiously.