‘Stepping-Stone’ Is a Way Up and Out

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

1 learning   

n.学问，学识，学习；动词learn的现在分词

参考例句：

• When you are learning to ride a bicycle,you often fall off.初学骑自行车时，常会从车上掉下来。
• Learning languages isn't just a matter of remembering words.学习语言不仅仅是记些单词的事。

2 creek   

n.小溪，小河，小湾

参考例句：

• He sprang through the creek.他跳过小河。
• People sunbathe in the nude on the rocks above the creek.人们在露出小溪的岩石上裸体晒日光浴。

3 spy   

n.间谍，侦探，侦察；vt.侦察，找出，发现；vi.做密探，侦查

参考例句：

• I'm sure my neighbours spy on me.我肯定邻居暗中监视我。
• The spy never told his family about his underground activities.那个间谍从来不把他的地下活动告诉他的家人。

4 profitable   

adj.有益的，能带来利益的，有利可图的

参考例句：

• That business became profitable last year.那项生意去年变得很赚钱。
• The convention business is very profitable for the hotel industry.承办会议业务能给旅馆业带来很高的利润。

5 powerful   

adj.有力的，有权力的，强大的

参考例句：

• The UN began to get more and more powerful.联合国开始变得越来越强大了。
• Such are the most powerful voices of our times!这些就是我们时代的最有力的声音！

6 investment   

n.投资，投资额；(时间、精力等的)投入

参考例句：

• It took two years before I recouped my investment.我用了两年时间才收回投资。
• The success of the project pivots on investment from abroad.这个工程的成功主要依靠外来投资。

7 admission   

n.允许进入；承认；入场费，入会费，入场券

参考例句：

• We attached a condition to his admission to our school.我们对准许他入校附加了一个条件。
• By her own admission,she was responsible for the accident.她自己承认，事故应该由她负责。

8 teller   

n.银行出纳员；(选举)计票员

参考例句：

• The bank started her as a teller.银行起用她当出纳员。
• The teller tried to remain aloof and calm.出纳员力图保持冷漠和镇静。

9 supervisory   

adj.监督的；管理的

参考例句：

• Have you ever done supervisory work? 你担任过管理工作吗？ 来自辞典例句
• Others, however, remain reluctant to strengthen supervisory powers at the European level. 然而，还有一些国家仍不愿强化欧盟层面的监管权力。 来自互联网

10 promotion   

n.提升，晋级；促销，宣传

参考例句：

• The teacher conferred with the principal about Dick's promotion.教师与校长商谈了迪克的升级问题。
• The clerk was given a promotion and an increase in salary.那个职员升了级，加了薪。

11 helping   

n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的

参考例句：

• The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
• By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。

12 code   

n.代码，代号，密码；法典，法规，规划

参考例句：

• What's the code for Tianjin?天津的代号是多少？
• Remember to use postal code.勿忘使用邮政编码。

13 literal   

adj.照字面的，原义的，逐字的

参考例句：

• This word should not be taken in its literal sense.这个词不能按本义去理解。
• He made a literal interpretation.他逐字解释。

14 direct   

adj.直接的；直达的；v.指挥；知道；监督；管理

参考例句：

• This train is direct,you do not have to change.这辆火车是直达的，你不必换车。
• The army is under the king's direct command.军队由国王直接统帅。