第一， 迷你对话

A: Couldn’t you put off the deadline next month?

你不能把期限放到下个月吗？

B: I’m afraid not.

恐怕不能。

A: I am really held at bay.

我实在是走投无路了。

B: I cannot help.

我也无能为力。

第二， 地道表达

at bay

1. 解词释义

at bay的意思是“陷入绝境”“陷入困境”。

2. 拓展范例

e.g. Dyke was there, at bay at last, his back against a bank of rock.

戴克就在那里，到底可弄得无路可走了，背靠在一块石壁上。

e.g. In this way the girl delivered herself and from hour to hour kept her aunt at bay.

姑娘以这种方式说话，一个小时又一个小时地抵挡姑母的进攻。

第三， 咬文嚼字

put off：推迟

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.

我说不准那个约会是否延期了。