Liberal Dictionary English Dictionary
foothold [foo t-hohld] ExamplesWord Origin See more synonyms for foothold on Thesaurus.com noun
- a place or support for the feet; a place where a person may stand or walk securely.
- a secure position, especially a firm basis for further progress or development: They gained a foothold in the New York market before beginning their national campaign.
Origin of foothold First recorded in 1615–25; foot + hold1 Related Words for foothold perch, niche, footing, toehold, crevice, purchase, hold, space Examples from the Web for foothold Contemporary Examples of foothold
For decades, the Chinese government has had a foothold on the African continent.
‘Made in China’ Now Being Made in Africa
Brendon Hong
August 23, 2014
[Laughs] But, yes, I suppose Scientology has more of a foothold there than it does here.
Paul Haggis on Scientology, the ‘Crash’ Oscar, and ‘Third Person’
Kevin Fallon
June 19, 2014
It would allow the old way of doing things to regain a foothold in this young century.
President Obama’s Belgian Waffle
Stuart Stevens
March 27, 2014
And today, unlike in the 1950s, the hard-right has gained much more of a foothold in corporate America.
Can a Senator Stop a Union? Bob Corker Is Certainly Trying
Michael Tomasky
February 14, 2014
But while the Paleo diet has rapidly gained a foothold in the public consciousness, it has also been criticized in the media.
Chris Kresser, M.S., L.AC.
January 16, 2014
Historical Examples of foothold
Somewhere on the foothold of the rocks men were lurking, I made sure.
Sir Max Pemberton
It is so easy for him to get a foothold in a girl’s heart here.
Hall Caine
A new tributary for the archic man, and a foothold in the enemy’s country.
Xenophon
He kicked into it with his feet, got a foothold, and worked the hole bigger.
Maurice Henry Hewlett
He scrambled and fought desperately for foothold in the slipping earth.
Astounding Stories of Super-Science, June, 1930
Various
British Dictionary definitions for foothold foothold noun
- a ledge, hollow, or other place affording a secure grip for the foot, as during climbing
- a secure position from which further progress may be madea foothold for a successful career
Word Origin and History for foothold n.