It's About Time

Who doesn't need a little extra time?
 是时候了 ， （相关语，也指有关“时间”的成语）- 誰不需要多一點點時間呢？

The professor always tried so hard. No question about that. He had tons of brilliant ideas - but they never worked. Time after time, he would dream up an amazing idea that was sure to change the world - and then it didn't. "The professor is going to change the world?" people joked "He couldn't change a light bulb. He couldn't even change the channel on the TV!" The professor ignored all the jokes people made. He wasn't about to give up. He knew that he was just ahead of his time.

One day, after teaching his classes at the university, the professor had some time on his hands. He decided to stop at a coffee shop and think. And think he did. He thought so hard that steam came out of his ears. Then, in the blink of an eye, an idea hit him. It didn't hurt much, but he did he did rub his head a little. "Of course!" he exclaimed. "A time machine!" He realized it was an idea that had come at the right time.

The professor's dream wasn't just any old time machine. his invention not only would allow people to go back in time or forward in time but also would create time. "Everyone always complains about running out of time, "he thought. "Why not make a machine that can create more time when you need it? Or stretch time and make it last longer? Or save time like putting it in a bank? (With interest!) He knew he had no time to lose. He was eager to create his world-changing invention.

His wife, Mildred, wasn't so sure about the professor's great idea. "It'll never work." she doubted. "You can't make time." The professor disagree. "Time is money," he explained. "If you can make money and save money, why can't you do the same with time?" Mildred complained, "The only thing you're doing with time is wasting it. I still think you're crazy, but only time will tell." She knew that the professor was determined to try out his idea, so she decided to keep quiet for the time being.

Out in his workshop, the professor drew lots of plans for his new time machine. he soon lost track of time. He created models and used clocks and times of every shape and size. He attempted every method he could think of. He tried reading books backward as a way to turn back the clock. He looked at a calendar under a lamp through his telescope - to see light years into the future.

Then he remembered the saying that time flies, so he threw his watch out of the window to see if it was true. He applied for a loan at the bank - he had heard about people living on borrowed time. Sadly, the banker wouldn't give him the time of day. Finally, he made an amazing discovery - a way to save time and give him lots of extra time. "I've got it, Mildred!" he exclaimed, "If I give up on my time machine project, I'll have plenty of time for other things!"

His wife smiled, "Well, it's about time!"

Grammar Gym:
He was eager to create his world-changing invention.
world- changing invention : an invention that changes the world. (too wordy)
object that does something: for example:
*fire-breathing dragons. - Dragons that breath fire.
*a money-grabbing idea. - The idea that making money.
*energy-saving solutions. - The solutions that save energy.

Vocabulary Tips:
time after time - again and again. all the time. time -here "一次，一回 " 即一次又一次。一再的。
*Time after time, Eric has promised to show up on time, but he is always late.
ahead of one's time - he is ahead of the time. 超越时代，走在时代的前端。
*The writer's style was ahead of her time, so it wasn't accepted by the critics.
time on one's hands - you have extra time to spare. 多余或空闲的时间。
*Wesley had some time on his hands this afternoon, so he went to visit his parents.
in the blink of an eye - in a very short of time. disappear very fast that you are unable to see it again. 一眨眼，一霎那的时间。
blink - the time period is short as you eyes just about to close and open.。眨眼
*In the blink of an eye, the thief took my purse and my luggage. 。。。小偷偷走了我的皮包和行李。
It's about time - you wait for long and just show up, you may say.....(Watch, it's informal, not polite.)
no question about that - understand it, agree.
is sure to (verb) - is sure to work this time. - is certain.
not about to do something - not going to do something. example: Not about to share candies with others or not about to ask someone something.
and (verb) he/she did - someone tried and did hard. example: She wants to run for something, "and run she did", someone wants to try something, "and try he did".
run out of something - something use up.  用完或耗尽某种物质。
run out of time - time use up, there is no time left. the time is passing you.没有时间了，时间耗尽了。。
*We'd better hurry up and leave, We're running out of time!我们最好赶快离开，没时间了。
have no time to lose - you have no time to spare, need to get's going.没有时间可以浪费。时间紧迫，不可拖延
lose - can't find, disappear. 失去
*Our flight could leave any second. We have no time to lose.时间紧迫，不可拖延，飞机（即将）马上就要起飞。。
have no something (n) to something (v) - you don't have something to do something.
* have no money to spend, have no car to drive, have no paper to write on.......
time will tell - over a long period of time, you can see it's come true or not.时间可以证明。
* Whether this treatment works or not, only time will tell.
for the time being - for now, this time right now. at this time.暂时，目前。
*I have't found a suitable place to live yet, so I am living with my parents for the time being.
*I can't stay long, but I can talk for the time being.
doubt - not sure, not certain.
stretch - make it longer, pull it longer. stretch a dollar that make a dollar more value, buy more with a dollar.
time machine can travel through time - travel through the past, or  all the way to the past to certain era, or travel through in the future.
not just any old something - should be very special, not just like something old or existing thing you know.
lose track of time - We forgot about time when we are doing some interesting thing.
track - record, something is there that you can follow or see it. 轨迹，轨道。
lose track -失去线索。
*I lost track of Nancy after we graduated from high school.
lose (lost) track of something.-
lose track of time -忘了时间。忘记了时间。
* We lost track of time and were late for the meeting.
turn back the clock - turn the clock needle back. 把时钟倒转（拨）回去。时光倒流。
* If I could turn back the clock, I would chase after my dreams no matter what.
live on borrowed time - 侥幸还活着。
borrow time - not your time, you use others. Your time is out, you use other's time.借来的时间。
*Nathan feels like he is living on borrowed time since he was diagnosed with cancer.
not give someone the time of day - not willing to deal or talk to someone, ignore people who you don't like.对人不理不睬。（不喜欢和某人说话。）
*Jack keeps asking Lucy to go out with him, but she won't give him the time of day.
light year -光年。
every shape and size - every ways.
throw something out of window (door) -
throw (threw ) watch out of window - "throw time away". watch tell times, watch refer to the time. Throw watch out of window, he just play funny.

Language Tips:
ton / tonne - （发音相同）
ton- 顿，2000 磅（美国地区使用的重量单位）也指“很多的，数量大的”
tonne = metric ton.公吨，公顿。（美国以外地区使用的重量单位）
I had tons of fun hiking in the mountain with my family. 
had tons of brilliant ideas -许多好点子。
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Professor - 大学教授。(成为终生职正教授是一条艰辛的慢慢长路。）
Step 1. Ph. D - get Ph.D degree first. 博士学位。
Step 2. assistant professor -  then find a teaching job in university and teach. 助理教授。
Step 3. associate professor - work certain year to get promoted. 副教授。work at least 8 year to be tenure.
Step 4. full professor = tenure (ten-nure) -正教授，终生职教授，保证薪水及职位。终生职正教授不会被解雇。
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time machine -时光机器。
time travel -穿越时光（回到过去或进入未来）