星期一早上8:40 分。
 
　　"Sorry, I am late. The street was very busy."(塞車?)
 
　　在北美洲，辦公時間一般是由早上8時或8:30分開始。這位同事明顯遲到了。
 
　　星期五早上8:45 分。
 
　"I am so sorry. It must be the weekend. The cars are one after the other. Very busy.” (汽車一輛接一輛?)
 
　　她剛從香港來加拿大不久，差不多每隔一兩天便遲到一次。
 
　　在國外工作，要特別注意文化差異。守時便是其中一項。
 
　　例如，跟日本或德國的朋友開會，就算是遲一、兩分鐘也是萬萬不可的事情。
 
　　英美朋友雖然未及德日朋友那樣，對時間異常執著，但在約會時遲到，也會被視為浪費對方時間，並不專業。
 
　　當然，很多時人算不如天算。因種種未能遇見的情形而無法準時到達，是常見的情況。
 
　　這時，該如何客氣地向對方解釋，自己將稍稍遲到？
 
　　若是已知自己必會遲到，便該預早通知。例如，因上一個會議比預期遲散會，便可以請同事預先知會對方：
 
　　Maria wanted you to know that her meeting is running late. She asked the group to start the meeting without her. She will join you after her meeting is over.
 
　　又例如，要向老闆提出明早要見醫生，稍遲一點回公司，便可以用以下這句：
 
　　I have a doctor’s/ dental appointment tomorrow morning. I will be in the office no later than 9:30 am.
 
　　導致遲到最常見的情況，是塞車。雖然形容街道繁忙用The street is very busy 絕對正確，但若要表示塞車，用stuck in traffic或 run into traffic 就更為準確：
 
　　 I am sorry I am going to be a little late. I am stuck in traffic./ I ran into heavy traffic.
 
　　要繪聲繪色地表示塞車，更可用以下的句子：
 
　　Sorry, I am running late boss. The traffic is really slow today. (Running late：要遲到了)
 
　　It’s bumper to bumper here on Queen’s Road Central. I’m going to be at least fifteen minutes late. Sorry about that.  (Bumper ：「泵把」或「緩衝器」。Bumper to bumper是汽車一輛緊接一輛的意思。)
 
　　Traffic is backed up near Victoria Park because of a minor traffic accident. I will be a little late. Sorry.  (Backed up ：堵塞)
 
　　若在約見客戶時遲到，又該怎樣解話？
 
　　My apologies (或 I am so very sorry) Mr. Chan , I was held up in traffic. It took me much longer than expected to come here. (hold up：阻礙)
 
　　當然，以上總總的提議也只一些補救的方式。最徹底的方法，當然是：
 
　　The best way to beat the traffic is to leave home early and avoid rush hour traffic. (To beat the traffic：避過阻塞的交通。Rush hour：繁忙時間）