職場拖延症：怎樣算拖？

American Heritage Dictionary美國傳統字典說: 

To put off doing something, especially out of habitual carelessness or laziness.
延遲做一件事，特別指習慣性的疏忽或懶惰。
To postpone or delay needlessly. 沒有必要的延遲。 

Cambridge dictionary劍橋字典說：
To keep delaying something that must be done, often because it is unpleasant or boring.
該做的事情，因為覺得它不愉快、無聊，而延後進行。
Example: I know I've got to deal with the problem at some point - I'm just procrastinating.
我知道遲早得解決這個問題--我只是在拖。 

由網友下定義的Urban Dictionary，說法讓人噗哧一笑：
What you are doing right now. Get the fxxk going and finish your homework.  
你現在做的事就叫做拖，快滾去把功課做完。
Example: You. You procrastinate. You are the example. 你就是拖延最好的範例。 

這些事情其實都算拖

Scrolling your phone non-stop 無法停止滑手機

Not asking enough questions 埋頭做事不發問 

Not breaking up with someone 開不了口分手

Not calling your family 一直不打電話回家

Constantly playing video games 沈迷於電玩

Constantly checking your email 一直檢查email

Taking a super long shower 洗澡洗很久 

Renewing books over and over again 一再延長借閱期限 

Browsing too many tabs at the same time 同時看太多分頁

這些字都有「拖」

Postpone 延後
They decided to postpone the deadline. 他們決定把期限延後。

Put off 推遲
He put off paying the bills. 他延遲了付款。
He managed to put off the creditors for another week. 他設法讓借款人們同意延後一周。

Stall 拖延；陷入泥沼
It's just a stall tactic. 那只是拖延戰術。

Prolong 延長；延期
這個字本身沒有負面意思，例如：
This is just prolonging the agony. 這只是在延長痛苦。
A good diet can prolong your life. 良好的飲食可以延年益壽。
A prolonged stay是長期滯留
A prolonged recession 則是經濟持續低迷

Dally 浪費時間
Don't dally or we'll miss the train! 再浪費時間我們就要錯過火車了！

Drag one's feet 想像一個人拖著腳走，拖拖拉拉的樣子。
He knows he should make a decision,  but he's dragging his feet. 他知道該做決定了，但他還在拖。

本文收錄於英語島English Island 2016年7月號
訂閱雜誌

加入Line好友