stepping stone

英 [ˈstepɪŋ stəʊn]

美 [ˈstepɪŋ stoʊn]

n. (小溪、小河中的)踏脚石; 进身之阶; 垫脚石; 敲门砖

Collins.1

牛津词典

noun

（小溪、小河中的）踏脚石
one of a line of flat stones that you step on in order to cross a stream or river
进身之阶；垫脚石；敲门砖
something that allows you to make progress or begin to achieve sth
1. a stepping stone to a more lucrative career
  涉足更赚钱的行业的敲门砖

柯林斯词典

N-COUNT (尤指事业的)垫脚石，进身之阶
You can describe a job or event as astepping stonewhen it helps you to make progress, especially in your career.
1. Many students now see university as a stepping stone to a good job.
  很多学生现在将上大学看成是找一份好工作的敲门砖。
(小溪或小河中的)垫脚石，踏脚石
Stepping stonesare a line of large stones which you can walk on in order to cross a shallow stream or river.

英英释义

noun

any means of advancement
1. the job was just a stepping stone on his way to fame and riches
a stone in a marsh or shallow water that can be stepped on in crossing

双语例句

I am sure this promotion is just a stepping stone to even greater things.
我相信你这次晋升，只是未来取得更辉煌成就的开端。
Still, this technology could prove a useful stepping stone towards further efficiency reductions in the future.
不过，这已是向未来节能方向发展的一块有用的踏脚石。
I consider my work here as stepping stone for a promising future in this industry.
我把这份工作看作是在业内大展宏图的踏脚石。
Clearly a stepping stone for a better life.
明显是迈向更美好生活的踏脚石。
If I was a stepping stone in the middle of the bridge, he would bump into me and I can touch him!
如果我被铺在桥的正中，就能碰到他、摸他一下了！
For others, meanwhile, blogging has been a stepping stone to new employment, part of a career progression that may or may not have been consciously planned.
同时，对其它人而言，写博客已是寻找新就业机会的跳板，属于职业发展的一部分，这可能是有意规划的，也可能是无意之举。
It proved to be a nice stepping stone for developing a more complex application.
它是开发更复杂的应用程序的基础。
Is the Script and Language of the Bimo Safe for ever or Only a Stepping Stone to Learning Han?
毕摩经书与语言是安全永续的，抑或仅是学习汉语的一个台阶？
Failure is a stepping stone to success.
失败就是成功路上的垫脚石。
Many students now see university as a stepping stone to a good job.
很多学生现在将上大学看成是找一份好工作的敲门砖。