凯瑟琳升职记:提建议之我们应设法拖延时间

【情景再现】

Catherine和一位美国同事共同主持一场歌舞晚会，但舞会马上就要开始了，而第一位演员因为交通问题被堵在路上，要半小时后才能到场。美国同事就对Catherine说：I think we should try to buy more time.

I think we should try to buy more time.我想我们应该设法拖延时间。

buy这里意为“做出牺牲以获得（某事物）“，例如：His fame was bought at the expense of health and happiness. 他获得了名声牺牲了健康和幸福。不过buy time是个很常用的表达，意思是”拖延时间“。所以如果遇到类似会议开始了而重要发言人还未到场的情景，你就可以对搭档说：I think we should buy more time.

【英语情景剧】

Tom: Now it's Jane's turn, but she hasn't shown up yet.

汤姆：现在该简表演了，但我们还没见到她人呢。

Shirley: That's terrible. I think we should try to buy more time and contact her.

雪莉：太糟了。我想我们应该设法拖延时间，并与她取得联系。