英语专四常见词辨析二百七十六

delay, postpone, defer, suspend, prolong, put off

这些动词或短语动词均有“推延，延期”之意。

delay : 普通用词，多指因外界原因推迟或耽误，也可指有意推迟。

My delay in going abroad is due to my illness.(我推迟出国是因为我生病了。)

postpone : 正式用词，语气较强，多指有安排的延期，常指明延期到一定的时间。

They postponed leaving because of the weather.（他们因天气原因而延迟离开。）

defer : 正式用词，语气强于postpone，多指故意拖延。

The department deferred the decision for six months.（这个部门推迟了六个月才作决定。）

suspend : 指暂时中断以待某种条件的实现。

Both sides in the conflict have agreed temporarily to suspend hostilities.（冲突双方同意暂时停火。）

prolong : 指把时间延长至超过正常或通常的限度。

Two countries prolonged signing an agreement until details could be agreed on.（两国推迟签约直到就细节达成协议。）

put off : 口语用词，与postpone同义，但较通俗。

The appointment was put off because of his illness.（由于他生病而推迟了约会。）