舌尖上的美國(69):談論遲到(下)

Rosie: Sorry, I overslept. My clock didn't go off this morning.

羅茜：對不起，我睡過頭了。鬧鐘早上沒響。

Francie: Again?

佛朗斯：又沒響？

Rosie: That's right, even though I did set the alarm last night.

羅茜：是的，我昨晚確實訂鬧鐘了。

Francie: Your clock never works. Perhaps you should buy a new one.

佛朗斯：你的鬧鐘從來沒好用過，也許你該買個新的了。

Rosie: Well, if it breaks down again tomorrow, I'll definitely buy a new one.

羅茜：如果明天它再壞，我肯定買個新的。

Francie: Maybe by then it'll be too late.

佛朗斯：也許那時就太晚了。

Rosie: What do you mean "too late"?

羅茜："太晚"是什麼意思？

Francie: By that time you'll be fired.

佛朗斯：到那時你就被抄了。

通常公司都會允許不超過三次的善意遲到，但要是天天遲到、還總拿鬧鐘不響做藉口的話，建議你還是買上三個鬧鐘吧，主管並不是那麼好糊弄的呀。

If you have problems with being punctual, especially for things that are a bit threatening, such as doctor's appointments, new social situations, or meeting with people you don't like, then your lateness is anxiety-based. Putting off the inevitable is how your mind tries to cope with anxiety.

如果你總是遲到，在諸如醫生約見、新的社交場合或者與你不喜歡的人碰面等一些你害怕面對的事情上尤其明顯的話，這種遲到多是焦慮引起的。就算不可避免，也要儘量延後，這就是大腦應對焦慮情緒時的做法。

But if you are habitually late for routine business and for events that don't cause you much discomfort, then the problem is mainly with self-discipline and your“inner brat,”the part of you that balks at exerting itself, and at being told what to do.

但是，如果你已經習慣在任何常規工作和活動場合遲到，那就是自律問題了，還有你心裏那個“頑劣的自己”，那個阻止你努力上進、不讓你聽從引導的自己。

常用表達道歉與接受道歉的表達方式：

致歉

Sorry.

Please forgive my lateness.

Please excuse me. I have to run.

I'm really / awfully / terribly sorry.

I cannot tell you how sorry I am.

Please forgive me. I didn't mean that.

常用句型：

It was wrong of me.

I hope you will excuse me.

I apologize for that.

I'm really sorry to be late again.