“敲门砖”，字面意思指“拣来敲门、门开后即被丢掉的砖头（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获取功名的东西（thing used as a means for fame and position），一达意图，即可扔掉。

与“敲门砖”意思附近的表达还有“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，书本也就被置之不理了。

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

他甘心当垫脚石。

He is willing to be a stepping stone.

本文来历：中国日报 责任编辑：杨卉_NQ4978