（一）口语中的用法，一般用于质问迟到的人。

1. where have you been: say this when someone arrives very late and you want to know why, because you are worried or annoyed

例：

Where have you been? You said you'd be here at three! （你到哪儿去了？你说你3点会到！）

2. what kept you: say this when someone arrives late and you are a little annoyed

例：

"What kept you?" "I couldn't find my glasses."（-你去干嘛了？  -我眼镜找不着了。）

3. about time too: say this when someone or something arrives or does something late, and you are annoyed because you have been waiting a long time （讽刺性的说法）

备注："about time too"常用于英式英语中，美式英语中常作"it's about time"。

例：

"Look, here's the bus." "It's about time!"（-看，公车来了！ -哟，可真“准时”啊。）

4. what time do you call this: say this when you are annoyed with someone because they have arrived very late

备注："what time do you call this"常用于英式英语中。

例：

What time do you call this, Martin? You were supposed to be here half an hour ago. （马丁，你说说现在几点了？！你半个小时前就应该到的！）

5. better late than never: say this when someone or something arrives or does something late but it does not matter very much

例：

"The pictures have finally arrived." "Well, better late than never."（-这些画终于送到了。  -嗯哼，迟到总比不到好。）

6. is that the time: say this when you suddenly realize that it is later than you thought it was （自己发现要迟到了）

备注："is that the time"常用于英式英语中。

例：

Oh my god, is that the time? I've got to go! （哎唷居然这个点了！我得走了！）

7. you're late: use this when someone arrives somewhere late

例：

You're late! Hurry up and get your books out and get on with your work. （你迟到了！赶紧把书拿出来做作业！）

You're late again, Chris! You'll be in trouble if you don't get your act together soon. （克里斯，你又迟到了，一会儿不好好表现你就死定了。）

（二）拖欠，延期

1. late:

例：

There are severe penalties for late payment of bills. （账单超期还款要重重罚款。）

15 minutes/3 days etc. late

Tony handed in his homework a day late. （托尼迟了一天交作业。）

2. be in arrears: to have not made one or more regular payments at the time when you should

例：

Two out of three tenants are in arrears. （三分之二的租客都拖欠房租。）

be in arrears with sth

Many people are in arrears with their rent. （很多人都欠房租。）

be two months etc. in arrears

The rent money is two months in arrears. （房租拖了两个月没缴。）

Over 60,000 Londoners are more than three months in arrears with their mortgage repayments. （超过6万伦敦人按揭贷款都没按时还，都拖了3个月以上。）

3. be behind with: to have not made one or more regular payments at the time when you should

例：

Jim's worried because he's behind with his loan repayments. （吉姆的贷款到期未还，为此很发愁。）

be two months etc. behind with something

You're two months behind with the rent. （你房租拖了两个月没交了。）

4. overdue: use this about payments that should have been made or library books that should have been returned before now

例：

I must take these books back to the library - they're overdue. （这些书超期了。我要拿去还给图书馆了。）

three weeks/two months etc. overdue

The rent's three weeks overdue. （房租拖了3个星期。）