delay、postpone、defer、suspend、prolong与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 plane was delayed by an hour.
我乘坐的飞机延误了1个小时。 - Heavy snow delayed the start of the game.
大雪迫使比赛延迟开始。
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 decided to postpone their holiday until next year.
他们决定将假期推迟到来年。 - We've had to postpone going to France because the children are ill.
因为孩子们生病了，我们不得不推迟去法国的行程。
defer : 正式用词，语气强于postpone，多指故意拖延。
- My bank has agreed to defer the repayments on my loan.
银行同意让我延缓偿还贷款。 - Can we defer making a decision until next week?
我们可以推迟到下周再决定吗？
suspend : 指暂时中断以待某种条件的实现。
- The introduction of the new system has been suspended until next year.
新制度推迟到明年再行实施。
prolong : 指把时间延长至超过正常或通常的限度。
- We were having such a good time that we decided to prolong our stay by another week.
我们过得非常愉快，决定再多呆一个星期。 - She chewed each delicious mouthful as slowly as she could, prolonging the pleasure.
她细嚼慢咽，尽情地享受每一口美味食品。
put off : 口语用词，与postpone同义，但较通俗。
- The meeting has been put off for a week.
会议被推迟了1周。 - I can't put off going to the dentist any longer.
我不能再拖着不去看牙医了。
