陳國詩的英文分享平台

關鍵字彙：

defer/ dilatory/ linger/ procrastinate/ protract/ retard/ tardy/ tarry

1. 「拖延」與「耽擱」，delay和postpone之外，還可用defer。如果對展延不以為然，可用procrastinate：

•Let's defer action for a few weeks.

•His military service was deferred until he finished college.

•The members decided to defer voting until the next meeting.

•It is not wise to procrastinate; otherwise, we find ourselves bogged down in a mass of work which should have been finished long ago.

•He missed his opportunity by procrastinating too long.

2. 敘述某狀態雖已開始，但步調明顯受阻，用retard：

•Cold weather retards the growth of the crops.

•A rise in interest rates would severely retard economic growth.

3. 在一個地方停留的時間超過預期，用動詞tarry；「流連忘返」叫linger：

•When something should be done right away, do not tarry.

•They lingered over coffee and missed the last bus.

•She should have gone out but lingered over her meal till it was too late.

•I spent a week at Kandersteg and could happily have lingered on.

•He lingered on after saying good-bye to his girlfriend.

4. 「拖長」一件事情的時間，用protract：

•Do not protract this phone conversation as I expect an important business call within the next few minutes.

•Let's not protract this argument; there's nothing else useful to be said.

5. 形容人做事「慢吞吞的」或事情的進行「遲緩的」，可用dilatory和tardy。其中，dilatory較常指人，tardy較常指事：

•It was rather dilatory of him not to answer such an important letter.

•Many of the students tend to be dilatory in turning in their homework.

•Some people are dilatory in paying their bills.

•The boss was not satisfied with the tardy progress of the dam under construction.

•The meeting was awfully delayed on account of Tom's rather tardy arrival.