arrearsar•rears /ə'rɪəz/

n 复

1. (应付或应收的)欠款

• She failed to pay arrears of rent. 她未能付清欠租。

• work off one's arrears 陆续还清欠款

2. 待完成之事

• arrears of work 剩下的工作

• arrears of correspondence 待复信件

词组in arrear(s)

1. 拖欠

• Their rent was two months in arrear(s). 他们的房租拖欠两个月了。

2. 落后

• In natural science they are much in arrear(s) of America. 在自然科学方面他们远远落后于美国。

into arrears 进入拖欠状态

• When he fell into arrears, his house was repossessed. 他拖欠款项，房子被收回。