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。
