foothold

/ˈfʊtˌhoʊld/
noun
  1. A place where a person can safely put their foot, especially while climbing.
    • She found a small foothold in the crack and pulled herself up.
    • Make sure each foothold is solid before shifting your weight.
    • The climber searched for a secure foothold on the rocky cliff.
  2. A secure position from which further progress can be made, especially in a competitive or challenging situation.
    • The team needs to establish a foothold in the first half of the game.
    • The company gained a foothold in the Asian market last year.
    • He used his internship to get a foothold in the film industry.
What does "foothold" mean? | whatsthatwordmean | whatsthatwordmean