Americans consider it extremely bad manners to be late.
美国人认为迟到是一种极不礼貌的做法。
I'm afraid all my efforts were in vain.
我担心我的努力全白费了。
And why only snakes? Cats, for instance, would be greatly helped; no running fights with large, fierce rats or tussles with grown rabbits -- just a bite and no more effort needed.