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。
- “Your library books are two weeks overdue.” (你借的书已逾期两周。)
- “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。)
- “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。)