“敲门砖”,字面意思指“拣来敲门、门开后即被丢弃的砖头(brick picked up to knock on the door and thrown away when it has served its purpose)”。常用来比喻世人借以猎取功名的工具(thing used as a means for fame and position),一达目的,即可抛弃。

每日一句解读(每日一词敲门砖)(1)

与“敲门砖”意思相近的表达还有“垫脚石”,两者都可以翻译为“a stepping stone to success”。

例句:

有些人常把读书当成“敲门砖”,一旦功名到手,书籍也就被束之高阁了。

Some people take attending to school only as a stepping stone to status; once they succeed, all the books will be shelved.

他甘愿当垫脚石。

He is willing to be a stepping stone.

(中国日报网英语点津 董静)

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