toehold

noun

toe·​hold ˈtō-ˌhōld 

1

a

: a hold or place of support for the toes (as in climbing)

b(1)

: a means of progressing (as in surmounting barriers)

(2)

: a slight footing

used his money to get a toehold, then a foothold, then a near stranglehold on the political economy

—R. W. Armstrong

2

: an illegal wrestling hold in which the aggressor bends or twists the other wrestler's foot

Examples of toehold in a Sentence

American companies looking for toeholds in foreign markets.

Recent Examples on the Web

In the north, Russian forces are trying to approach Kupiansk, which could act as a toehold in the Kharkiv region. —Dara Massicot, Foreign Affairs, 8 Mar. 2024

The Port of Eilat, Israel’s toehold on the Red Sea, has seen an 85 percent drop in shipping activity, its chief executive told Reuters last month. —Bryan Pietsch, Washington Post, 20 Jan. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1880, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids Definition

toehold

noun

toe·​hold ˈtō-ˌhōld 

: a hold or support for the toes (as in climbing)