stepping-stones(тж. stepping stones: Do you view your colleagues as stepping-stones? – Вы рассматриваете своих коллег только как средство достижения цели? • This job is a stepping stone to better things • Education is a stepping stone to a good job • Modelling is seen as a stepping stone to a career in moviesTaras)
stepping stone(и т.п.; something that allows you to make progress or begin to achieve something • a stepping stone to a more lucrative career. OALD Alexander Demidov)
