「敲門磚」,字面意思指「揀來敲門、門開後即被丟棄的磚頭(brick picked up to knock on the door and thrown away when it has served its purpose)」。常用來比喻世人藉以獵取功名的工具(thing used as a means for fame and position),一達目的,即可拋棄。
與「敲門磚」意思相近的表達還有「墊腳石」,兩者都可以翻譯為「a stepping stone to success」。
例句:
有些人常把讀書當成「敲門磚」,一旦功名到手,書籍也就被束之高閣了。
Some people take attending to school only as a stepping stone to status; once they succeed, all the books will be shelved.
他甘願當墊腳石。
He is willing to be a stepping stone.