arrears
C1formal, legal, financial, administrative
Definition
Meaning
Money that is owed and should have been paid earlier.
Work, duties, or tasks that remain unfinished and overdue; a state of being behind in obligations.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Typically used in plural form ('arrears'). Implies a legal or formal obligation that has been neglected. Can describe late payments (rent, tax, loan) or backlogged tasks.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning. Both use it in the same legal/financial contexts. In the US, 'in arrears' can also be a standard accounting term for payments made at the end of a period (e.g., 'paid in arrears' for work already done).
Connotations
Strongly negative, implying delinquency or failure to meet obligations.
Frequency
Equally common in formal financial/legal contexts in both varieties.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
be in arrears (with/of)fall/get into arrears (on)pay off/clear the arrearsVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “in arrears (behind with payments/work)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
The supplier threatened to cut services due to invoice arrears.
Academic
The study examined the psychological impact of long-term rent arrears on tenants.
Everyday
I need to sort out my council tax arrears before they take me to court.
Technical
The loan agreement stipulates that interest is payable monthly in arrears.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The tenant was threatened with eviction for *arrearing* on his rent. (Note: Extremely rare, 'falling into arrears' is standard).
American English
- The contract *arrears* the payment until completion. (Note: Very rare technical/legal use; 'defers' is standard).
adverb
British English
- Payment is made *arrears*. (Note: 'in arrears' is the adverbial phrase).
American English
- The interest is calculated *arrears*. (Note: 'in arrears' is the correct form).
adjective
British English
- He made an *arrears* payment to settle the account. (Note: 'Arrears' is not typically used attributively; 'overdue payment' is standard).
American English
- The *arrears* balance was sent to collections. (Note: 'past-due balance' is more common).
Examples
By CEFR Level
- If you don't pay your rent, you will be in arrears.
- The company helped him pay his tax arrears.
- The landlord initiated proceedings due to six months of rent arrears.
- After losing his job, he fell into arrears on his mortgage.
- The local authority has a duty to assist households at risk of falling into severe rent arrears.
- The sovereign debt crisis was exacerbated by the accumulation of interest payment arrears.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine an ARmy REARguard that's fallen behind (in the REAR) – 'arrears' are payments that have fallen behind schedule.
Conceptual Metaphor
FINANCIAL OBLIGATIONS ARE A RACE / BEING BEHIND IS A SPATIAL POSITION (falling behind, being in arrears).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid translating as 'задолженность' in all contexts; 'arrears' is specifically overdue debt, not just any debt. 'Задолженность' is broader.
- Do not confuse with 'arrest' (арест).
Common Mistakes
- Using singular 'arrear' (rare and archaic).
- Misspelling as 'arreas' or 'arears'.
- Using with prepositions other than 'in' or 'with' (e.g., 'on arrears').
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'in arrears' NOT typically negative?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is almost always used in the plural form 'arrears' (e.g., 'rent arrears', 'in arrears'). The singular 'arrear' is archaic.
'Debt' is any sum owed. 'Arrears' specifically refers to a debt that is overdue and late, implying a failure to meet a scheduled payment.
Yes, though less common. It can metaphorically refer to a backlog of work or duties (e.g., 'arrears of correspondence'). The financial sense is primary.
It means you are paid for work you have already done, at the end of the pay period. This is a standard, non-negative payroll term, unlike 'falling into arrears'.
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