‘Stepping-Stone’ Is a Way Up and Out

（单词翻译）

And now, welcome to Words and Their Stories, from VOA Learning¹ English. On this program we explore words and expressions in the English language.

Today we begin our story in nature.

Imagine you are walking in the woods, and you come to a little creek². You look over the water and spy³ some fat, ripe blackberries, wild grown, and ready for harvesting.

You can't believe your good luck to find your favorite fruit, free for the taking, just a few meters across the creek. But then you look down and realize you're wearing your favorite shoes. A walk through the water will ruin them! But you are also very, very, berry-hungry.

Stepping-stones are what you need. In a creek or river, stepping-stones are rocks with flat tops that sit above the water line. You can cross a creek by stepping from one rock top to another.

However, the term ‘stepping-stone' is not only for creek-crossings. It is often used figuratively. A worker, for example, can use stepping-stones to reach a higher level or position in their company.

Let's say it is your dream is to become the chief financial officer of a profitable⁴ and powerful⁵ investment⁶ firm. Your first stepping-stone on that path might be admission⁷ to a respected university. After completing your studies, you step to another stone, maybe it's a job as a teller⁸ at a small bank. Some time later, the bank offers you a supervisory⁹ position. That promotion¹⁰ is a third stepping-stone. All of them are helping¹¹ to make your dream come true.

Stepping-stones can be used to reach any kind of goal. But not every stepping-stone is a good place to land.

For example, some goal-seekers treat people as stepping-stones. And let's face it, most people do not enjoy being stepped on. They may be happy to provide a stepping-stone but usually do not want to serve as one.

Using someone as a stepping-stone could be seen as stealing help.

There is another way we use the term ‘stepping-stone.' Stepping-stones can be parts of a process within a larger operation. For example, learning how to write code¹² is a stepping-stone for many app developers.

Now, if your goal is to master the English Language, feel free to use any VOA Learning English stepping-stones on your path.

And that's all the time we have for this Words and Their Stories.

Words in This Story

creek – n. a small stream

figuratively – adv. in a figurative way : with a meaning that is different from the basic or literal¹³ meaning and that expresses an idea by using language that usually describes something else

teller – n. a member of a bank's staff concerned with the direct¹⁴ handling of money received or paid out

promotion – n. the act of moving someone to a higher or more important position or rank in an organization

code – n. to change (information) into a set of letters, numbers, or symbols that can be read by a computer

master – v. to learn (something) completely : to get the knowledge and skill that allows you to do, use, or understand (something) very well