STEPPING STONE

1. 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。 

个人拓展：

也可写作stepping-stone

搭配：be considered/ turn out to be/ serve as a good stepping stone to success /promotion

The job was just a stepping stone on his way to fame and riches.

//track record:informal the past record of the accomplishments and failures of aperson, business, etc. eg. The job needs someone with a good track record in investment.

//stint: a length of time in a particular way, especially doing a job or fulfilling a duty: a two-year stint in the military

背诵：

同义词：stepping stone, means, way, agency

Turn your stumbling blocks into stepping stones.

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

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