Learn
Watch & LearnLearning Paths
English for Daily LifeEnglish for Social ConnectionEnglish for WorkVOA English
Words and Their StoriesLearning Expressions with VOA
Processed with VS1Describe the people, principles, or goals that help you stay oriented in life.
VOA source audio
Source: VOA Learning English · Words and Their Stories
View original article & transcriptThis episode moves from the North Star’s role in navigation to its figurative use for a source of direction. It compares the phrase with “guiding light,” “moral compass,” and the less common “lodestar.”
Cultural note: People use “North Star” for different kinds of purpose, including values, faith, a mission, or a long-term goal. The metaphor is personal; it does not imply that everyone should share the same priorities.
Keep exploringWhen people feel uncertain, a guiding image can help them explain what keeps them moving. Notice which expressions focus on values and which suggest inspiration from another person.
Phrase guide · 5 expressions
Original explanations and examples, created for learners. Save a card for later or hear the phrase spoken by your browser.
Name a principle, purpose, or goal that helps guide decisions.
Meaning
A central purpose, value, or goal that helps guide your choices.
Tone & use
A common metaphor in personal, educational, and workplace discussions. Often written with capital letters when referring to the guiding star or the metaphorical guide.
Example
“For the community clinic, making care easier to access became its North Star during the redesign.”
Meaning
A person’s sense of right and wrong that helps guide decisions.
Tone & use
Common in discussions of ethics and character. It describes values, not a literal navigation tool.
Example
“The coach’s moral compass led him to admit that the referee had made the correct call.”
Meaning
Making progress in the expected direction or toward a goal.
Tone & use
Very common in work, study, and everyday conversation. It can describe a plan, project, or person.
Example
“We are on track to finish the garden before the community open day.”
Describe someone who provides a model, direction, or inspiration.
Meaning
A person, idea, or principle that helps someone choose a direction.
Tone & use
A warm, familiar metaphor. It can refer to practical advice or moral inspiration.
Example
“Her first music teacher was a guiding light who encouraged her to keep composing.”
Meaning
A person or idea that serves as a model or guide.
Tone & use
Literary or formal-sounding and less common than “guiding light.” It may be unfamiliar to some listeners, so explain it if clarity matters.
Example
“The scientist’s careful method became a lodestar for the younger researchers in her lab.”
Knowledge check
Choose the expression that best fits each situation.
Try it · Choose the best expression
1 of 3
