One thing leads to another?
文章来源: 文章作者: 发布时间:2009-03-04 06:59 字体: [ ]  进入论坛
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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 thronged1 with people even in the slowest business day and inevitably2 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 onlookers3 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 anticipation4 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 stunned5 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 compartments6. 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 dagger7 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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1 thronged bf76b78f908dbd232106a640231da5ed     
v.成群,挤满( throng的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • Mourners thronged to the funeral. 吊唁者蜂拥着前来参加葬礼。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • The department store was thronged with people. 百货商店挤满了人。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
2 inevitably x7axc     
adv.不可避免地;必然发生地
参考例句:
  • In the way you go on,you are inevitably coming apart.照你们这样下去,毫无疑问是会散伙的。
  • Technological changes will inevitably lead to unemployment.技术变革必然会导致失业。
3 onlookers 9475a32ff7f3c5da0694cff2738f9381     
n.旁观者,观看者( onlooker的名词复数 )
参考例句:
  • A crowd of onlookers gathered at the scene of the crash. 在撞车地点聚集了一大群围观者。
  • The onlookers stood at a respectful distance. 旁观者站在一定的距离之外,以示尊敬。
4 anticipation iMTyh     
n.预期,预料,期望
参考例句:
  • We waited at the station in anticipation of her arrival.我们在车站等着,期待她的到来。
  • The animals grew restless as if in anticipation of an earthquake.各种动物都变得焦躁不安,像是感到了地震即将发生。
5 stunned 735ec6d53723be15b1737edd89183ec2     
adj. 震惊的,惊讶的 动词stun的过去式和过去分词
参考例句:
  • The fall stunned me for a moment. 那一下摔得我昏迷了片刻。
  • The leaders of the Kopper Company were then stunned speechless. 科伯公司的领导们当时被惊得目瞪口呆。
6 compartments 4e9d78104c402c263f5154f3360372c7     
n.间隔( compartment的名词复数 );(列车车厢的)隔间;(家具或设备等的)分隔间;隔层
参考例句:
  • Your pencil box has several compartments. 你的铅笔盒有好几个格。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • The first-class compartments are in front. 头等车室在前头。 来自《简明英汉词典》
7 dagger XnPz0     
n.匕首,短剑,剑号
参考例句:
  • The bad news is a dagger to his heart.这条坏消息刺痛了他的心。
  • The murderer thrust a dagger into her heart.凶手将匕首刺进她的心脏。
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