delay the appointment

USAGE SUMMARY

'delay the appointment' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe when an appointment needs to be rescheduled or pushed back. Example: I'm sorry, but I'm going to have to delay the appointment until next week.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

The home secretary wrote to the committee saying that she could not delay the appointment because it was essential to maintain the confidence of the alleged victims and survivors of abuse.

The Guardian

May also explained why the commissioner needs to be in post soon and why she blocked Downing Street's attempt to have the American Bill Bratton get the job: "I think it's absolutely important at the moment that we don't delay the appointment of a new Metropolitan Police Commissioner.

The Guardian

Alan Duncan promised MPs the Foreign Office was "fighting in every capital in the world" to block a surprise African nations-led move at the UN general assembly to end or delay the appointment of a UN expert to champion LGBT rights.

The Guardian

In the few hours after Scalia's death was first reported, conservatives vowed to delay the appointment of a new Supreme Court justice until Obama has left office.

Huffington Post

Ambrose Dudley received the post of Master of the Ordnance, though he pressed his influential brother to delay the appointment somewhat, so that he could not be held accountable for his predecessor's embezzlement of funds.

Wikipedia

The point of Paul's filibuster was to delay the appointment of drone-policy architect John Brennan as the new CIA director and to draw attention to Attorney General Eric Holder's refusal to categorically rule out drone strikes on US soil, in response to a letter Paul wrote.

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

46 human-written examples

America has indicated its displeasure by delaying the appointment of an ambassador to Vientiane.

The Economist

I also missed another whole day of classes arguing with my insurance company, which delayed the appointment six hours.

The New York Times

For more than a year now, Maliki has effectively controlled the interior and defence ministries, which oversee the police and military, while conflicts between Sunni and Shia politicians have delayed the appointment of permanent ministers.

The Guardian

Ms. Inman stepped down on Aug. 2, but Billabong has delayed the appointment of Mr. Olivet, which would be unlikely to proceed if the company chooses the Centerbridge deal instead.

The New York Times

Slade tendered his resignation as manager of League One side Orient on 24 September but legal discussions between the Bluebirds and his former club had delayed the appointment.

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "delay the appointment", clearly communicate the reason for the delay and propose a new, specific time to reschedule. This helps maintain trust and avoid inconvenience.

Common error

Simply stating that you need to "delay the appointment" without providing an alternative time or a timeframe for rescheduling can leave the other party in a state of uncertainty and frustration. Always suggest a new time or at least a clear timeline for when you will be able to reschedule.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "delay the appointment" functions as a verb phrase, where "delay" is the verb and "the appointment" is the direct object. This indicates an action performed on a specific scheduled event. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it's usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Wiki

30%

Science

30%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "delay the appointment" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase that is employed to indicate the need to reschedule a previously arranged meeting or engagement. Ludwig AI confirms its appropriateness in written English. While the phrase is most frequently found in news and media, wiki entries, and scientific literature, it maintains a neutral register suitable for various contexts. When using the phrase, it's important to provide a clear explanation for the delay and suggest an alternative time to avoid ambiguity. Related phrases such as "postpone the appointment" or "reschedule the appointment" can be used as alternatives depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

postpone the appointment

Replaces "delay" with "postpone", indicating a deferral to a later time.

reschedule the appointment

Focuses on changing the appointment to a different time slot.

put off the appointment

Uses the phrasal verb "put off" to convey the act of delaying.

defer the appointment

Similar to postpone, suggesting a formal deferral.

hold off on the appointment

Indicates a temporary suspension or delay of the appointment.

push back the appointment

Emphasizes moving the appointment to a later date.

adjourn the appointment

Suggests a temporary suspension, often in a formal context.

table the appointment

Means to postpone consideration of the appointment indefinitely or until a later time.

suspend the appointment

Indicates a temporary cessation of the appointment process.

stall the appointment

Implies delaying the appointment through indirect means or tactics.

FAQs

What does "delay the appointment" mean?

To "delay the appointment" means to postpone or reschedule it to a later time. It implies that the appointment will still occur, but not at the originally scheduled time.

What can I say instead of "delay the appointment"?

You can use alternatives like "postpone the appointment", "reschedule the appointment", or "put off the appointment" depending on the context.

Is it better to "delay the appointment" or cancel it?

Whether it's better to "delay the appointment" or cancel it depends on your intentions and the circumstances. If you still need the appointment but can't make the original time, delaying is preferable. If you no longer need the appointment, canceling is more appropriate.

What are some formal ways to say "delay the appointment"?

Formal alternatives include "defer the appointment" or "adjourn the appointment". These options are suitable for professional or academic settings.