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Overdue

“Overdue” 由 over(超过)与 due(到期)构成,广泛用于图书馆借书、账单、项目截止日期,以及比喻义如 a long-overdue apology(早该道歉却迟迟未到)。语气明确,常带轻微责备或紧迫感。

  1. “Your library books are two weeks overdue.” (你借的书已逾期两周。)
  2. “The reform bill is long overdue after years of debate.” (多年争论之后,这项改革法案早就该出台了。)
  3. “The train was overdue by forty minutes because of signal problems.” (因信号故障,列车晚点四十分钟。)

“Overdue” 中 due 源自法语 deu(应付的、到期的),over- 表”超过”,合为”过了该发生的时候”。

“over-” 表”超过、过度”;“due” 表”到期、应付”,整体即”过了期限的”。

在英语日常与服务行业中,overdue notice(逾期通知)、overdue payment(逾期付款)极为常见;比喻用法如 overdue recognition 则强调”早该得到却迟迟未到”。

  • 固定搭配: “overdue payment” (逾期付款), “long overdue” (早该……的), “overdue library book” (逾期未还的书)
  • 副词性短语: well overdue

over(超过)+ due(到期)→ 过了该还/该到的时候 → 逾期的。

“She finally sent an overdue thank-you note, embarrassed that months had passed since the dinner.” (她终于补上一封早该写的感谢信,尴尬的是晚宴过去好几个月了。)