"at short notice" 表示“提前很短时间通知(或行动);临时;仓促”,强调做某事时没有足够的准备时间,通知或安排的时间非常紧迫。
该短语通常作为状语(修饰动词或整个句子),可置于句末、句中或句首(较少)。常见搭配包括:
do sth. at short notice:临时做某事
be ready/available at short notice:随时(临时)可以做某事
cancel/postpone sth. at short notice:临时取消/推迟某事
arrange/prepare sth. at short notice:临时安排/准备某事
临时行动:We had to pack our bags and leave at short notice when the flood warning came.(洪水预警来临时,我们不得不仓促收拾行李出发。)
随时待命:The doctor is always available at short notice for emergencies.(这位医生随时可以应对紧急情况,哪怕临时通知。)
临时取消:The concert was canceled at short notice due to bad weather.(音乐会因天气恶劣临时取消了。)
临时安排:Can you arrange a meeting room at short notice? We have a last-minute client visit.(你能临时安排一间会议室吗?我们有个临时客户来访。)
at a moment's notice:更强调“立刻、马上”(比 "at short notice" 更紧迫),如:He can start work at a moment's notice.(他可以立刻开始工作。)
last-minute:形容词,修饰名词,表示“最后一刻的;临时的”,如:a last-minute change(临时变更)、a last-minute decision(最后一刻的决定)。
简言之,"at short notice" 核心是“短时间内的临时安排/行动”,适用于需要快速响应、没有充分准备时间的场景。