每日一词 stepping stone

1. 认识这个词（基础篇）

词：stepping stone

英英释义：something that helps you to progress towards achieving something

例句：A good track record is widely considered a stepping stone to promotion.

2. 体会这个词 （进阶篇）

“stepping stone”是可数名词，字面意思是“垫脚石”，和中文完美对应。和中文中的“垫脚石”一样，stepping stone 的引申义也很常见。当我们想表达“A 是 B 的敲门砖”就可以说“A is a stepping stone to B”。

比如，我们经常会说想升职需要有良好的业绩，就可以说：

A good track record is widely considered a stepping stone to promotion.

最近，奥巴马夫妇在沉寂许久之后再次回到公众视野。想表达奥巴马在伊利诺伊州做参议员为他日后成功当选美国总统做了铺垫，就可以这样说：

Barack Obama's stint as a United States Senator of the state of Illinois served as a stepping stone to his presidency.

抖音先是在国内火起来的，产品在得到验证之后才在其他国家流行起来，就可以说：

TikTok's popularity in China turned out to be a stepping stone to its success overseas.

注意，“a stepping stone to success”很常见，stepping stone 和 success 正好还组成了头韵，值得掌握。

3. 从认识到会用（作业）

1）翻译下面的句子：

好习惯是成功的垫脚石。

（参考翻译：Good habits are a stepping stone to success. 或 Good habits are stepping stones to success. ）

2）结合自己的生活、学习、工作、兴趣等，想象在什么语境下会用到这个表达。先简要描述这个场景，再造句。

场景1 ：这个学习经历是我向自己梦想迈进的敲门砖。

造句：This learning experience is just a stepping stone to my dream. 

场景2：这份工作只是我的一个跳板。我想要更好，赚钱更多的工作。

造句: This job is just my stepping stone to a better and more lucrative job. 

场景3：每一次勇敢的尝试，我们都向自己的终极目标迈进了一步。

造句： Every brave attempt is a stepping stone to the ultimate goal. 

造句：Many students now see university as a stepping stone to a good job.

The job can be a stepping-stone to a career in publishing.

I see this job just as a stepping stone to better things. 

This should merely serve as a stepping stone for you to discover what works for you.

Little do people know that setbacks that they have in life can be turned into a stepping stone to success.

It means setting achievable goals as a stepping stone to ultimate success.