establish a foothold

USAGE SUMMARY

'establish a foothold' is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to refer to gaining and maintaining a position of influence or control in a particular area. For example: The company worked hard to establish a foothold in the luxury goods market.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

He had failed repeatedly to establish a foothold in radio.

The New York Times - Books

"I wanted to establish a foothold in states like Arkansas, Alabama and Tennessee".

The New York Times

Google is seeking to establish a foothold in air travel search.

The New York Times

Some returnees have agreed to arranged marriages to establish a foothold in Cambodian society.

The New York Times - Magazine

It was available almost exclusively to white people, allowing them to establish a foothold in places such as Ferguson.

The Guardian - Opinion

Uber faces strong incumbents in many of the countries in which it hopes to establish a foothold.

The New York Times

Insiders knew that it would take ample distribution, lots of promotion, and audience goodwill to establish a foothold.

The Washington Post

"At the time it felt so important for us to try and establish a foothold in the championship," Scott says.

The Guardian - Sport

Before then, they had tried several times to establish a foothold inside the complex, which was previously run by custodians loyal to Mr Sistani.

The Economist

European adventurers settled Tortue in 1629, in conjunction with trying to establish a foothold on the neighbouring island of Hispaniola (now comprising Haiti and the Dominican Republic).

Encyclopedia Britannica

As sales become ever more concentrated, it is becoming both more urgent and harder to establish a foothold near the top of the market.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "establish a foothold", clearly define the area or market in which the foothold is being established. For example, "establish a foothold in the Asian market".

Common error

Avoid using "establish a foothold" when the actual progress is minimal or insignificant. Ensure there's tangible evidence of a real, albeit initial, presence.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "establish a foothold" functions as a verb phrase, where "establish" is the verb and "a foothold" is the noun phrase acting as the direct object. It describes the action of creating or securing an initial, often precarious, position. Ludwig confirms this with numerous examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

66%

Wiki

17%

Encyclopedias

6%

Less common in

Science

5%

Formal & Business

3%

Reference

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "establish a foothold" is a commonly used expression that signifies gaining an initial, often tentative, position in a new area, market, or endeavor. Grammatically sound and versatile, it appears frequently in news, business, and general contexts. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and provides numerous examples from reputable sources like The New York Times and The Guardian. While alternatives like "gain a toehold" or "get a foot in the door" exist, "establish a foothold" effectively conveys the strategic effort to secure an initial presence. Just remember to use it when there's demonstrable progress and avoid overstating the achievement.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

gain a toehold

Replaces "establish" with "gain" and "foothold" with "toehold", slightly altering the image but retaining the core meaning of gaining initial access.

get a foot in the door

An idiomatic alternative that emphasizes the initial opportunity to enter a field or market.

secure a position

Focuses on obtaining a stable position, omitting the imagery of a "foothold" but conveying the same outcome.

make inroads

Indicates making progress and gaining influence, suggesting a gradual establishment of a presence.

get a start

Emphasizes the beginning aspect, implying the establishment of an initial presence but lacking the security connotation.

gain traction

Highlights the progress and momentum gained after establishing an initial position, shifting the focus slightly.

break into

Suggests overcoming an obstacle to enter a new market or field, implying the establishment of a preliminary presence.

carve out a niche

Focuses on creating a unique and specific position, adding the aspect of specialization to the initial establishment.

set up shop

Implies establishing a business or operation, adding a commercial dimension to the act of establishing a presence.

plant the seeds

Metaphorically suggests initiating actions that will lead to future growth and establishment, shifting the focus to the initial steps.

FAQs

How can I use "establish a foothold" in a sentence?

You can use "establish a foothold" to describe gaining an initial position in a market, industry, or region. For example, "The company aims to "establish a foothold" in the emerging electric vehicle market."

What's a good alternative to "establish a foothold"?

Alternatives include "gain a toehold", "secure a position", or "get a foot in the door", depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "established a foothold"?

Yes, "established a foothold" is the past tense form and is grammatically correct. For example, "The company "established a foothold" in the region last year."

What is the difference between "establish a foothold" and "dominate the market"?

"Establish a foothold" implies a beginning stage of gaining a small initial presence, while "dominate the market" suggests having a leading or controlling position. Establishing a foothold is often the first step before one can hope to "dominate the market".