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Reader question: What does the expression "one thing leads to another" mean
exactly?
My comments:
Cause and effect.
Farfetched? Maybe, maybe not – to me, the expression signifies the fact
that you're responsible for what happens to you. Let me make up an example for
you. You're walking, say, down the street at Wangfujing, the shopping district.
That place is thronged with people even in the slowest business day and
inevitably you bump another pedestrian on the shoulder. He stops. You stop. He
casts you a look, you know, that look. You look back. He makes a remark. You
make a remark. One word leads to another and before you know, you're immersed in
a major quarrel in a busy street, drawing a crowd of onlookers of your
own...
You see, every step on the way, you've allowed the series of events to
happen, one after another. That's why everything that happens to you is your own
doing.
Everything terrible that is.
I'm joking, of course. I'm not being serious, but you get the picture,
along with the phrase. The Chinese equivalent to "one thing leads to another"
will be the equally plain and beautiful "一来二去".
Anyways, here are a few real examples:
I only asked him in for a coffee, but one thing led to another and we ended
up in bed together (thefreedictionary.com).
Goals and Goal Setting (slooy.com).
Personally I've always drifted along, unconsciously using the "one thing
leads to another" approach. I thought goal setting was for executive types. I
have to admit I didn't understand how to set a goal. I've never really given it
any thought. I certainly didn't know how to consciously get to one even if I had
one in mind. That's not to say I've never achieved success through my life
because I have. I acquired entry into one of the most challenging to get into
university courses at THE best university in my country. I had the job of my
choice, ready to walk into months before my graduation. I can give you many more
examples but the point I'm making here is I've managed to achieve many wonderful
things with little thought of how to achieve them. Now I'm filled with
excitement and anticipation that I can actually create a most amazing future
through the methods of goal setting that I'm beginning to learn. I'm also
excited as I feel the instruction I'm receiving is second to none. The methods
used are totally in harmony with who I am. They are easy to incorporate into my
day-to-day busy schedule and they make total sense. I'm stunned that I've done
so well with out them!
"Our French friends seem to have touched the spot this time. No doubt it's
just as they say. She knocked at the door – surprise visit, I guess, for he kept
his life in water-tight compartments. He let her in – couldn't keep her in the
street. She told him how she had traced him, reproached him, one thing led to
another, and then with that dagger so handy the end soon came. It wasn't all
done in an instant, though, for these chairs were all swept over yonder, and he
had one in his hand as if he had tried to hold her off with it. We've got it all
clear as if we had seen it" (The Return of Sherlock Holmes, Arthur Conan
Doyle). |
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发表于 2016-7-9 23:44:39