迷你對話學地道口語第991期:陷入絕境
第一, 迷你對話
A: Couldn’t you put off the deadline next month?
你不能把期限放到下個月嗎?
B: I’m afraid not.
恐怕不能。
A: I am really held at bay.
我實在是走投無路了。
B: I cannot help.
我也無能爲力。
第二, 地道表達
at bay
1. 解詞釋義
at bay的意思是“陷入絕境”“陷入困境”。
2. 拓展範例
e.g. Dyke was there, at bay at last, his back against a bank of rock.
戴克就在那裏,到底可弄得無路可走了,背靠在一塊石壁上。
e.g. In this way the girl delivered herself and from hour to hour kept her aunt at bay.
姑娘以這種方式說話,一個小時又一個小時地抵擋姑母的進攻。
第三, 咬文嚼字
put off:推遲
e.g. Don' t put off until tomorrow what can be done today.
今日可做的事不要拖到明天。
e.g. I'm not certain whether the appointment has been put off or not.
我說不準那個約會是否延期了。