gain a foothold

USAGE SUMMARY

'gain a foothold' is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is used to refer to the establishment of a position of strength or influence, usually within a new area or field. For example: "The company has managed to gain a foothold in the global manufacturing market."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Others, however, didn't gain a foothold in the business.

The New Yorker

Now C diff has a chance to gain a foothold.

The Guardian

But nature tries to gain a foothold, too.

The New York Times

The insurgents will not gain a foothold here".

The New York Times

U.S. automakers have struggled to gain a foothold in Japan.

The Washington Post

In fairer, more just situations they seldom gain a foothold.

The Guardian - Opinion

It took a long time for the idea of academic freedom to gain a foothold.

University of California, Berkeley

That way, new parties could begin to gain a foothold in the political process.

Stanford University

Southwest Airlines is faltering in its attempt to gain a foothold at Washington's Reagan National Airport.

The Washington Post

European firms have also been quicker to gain a foothold in these markets.

The Economist

It is very difficult for competitors to gain a foothold in Urenco's business.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing strategic market entry or business expansion, use "gain a foothold" to emphasize the initial, challenging phase of establishing a presence.

Common error

Avoid using "gain a foothold" when referring to maintaining an already strong position. The phrase implies an initial struggle to establish oneself.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "gain a foothold" functions as a verb phrase, typically used intransitively, describing the action of establishing an initial, often tenuous, position. As Ludwig AI confirms, this action is frequently discussed in contexts of competition and strategic advancement.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Formal & Business

20%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Science

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "gain a foothold" is a common and grammatically correct expression used to describe the initial establishment of a position in a competitive environment. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it's prevalent in news, business, and academic contexts. While alternatives like "establish a presence" or "make inroads" exist, "gain a foothold" specifically emphasizes the challenging nature of this initial entry. When using the phrase, ensure it accurately reflects the act of establishing a new position, rather than maintaining an existing one. The high frequency and authoritative sourcing, along with Ludwig's analysis, confirm its reliable usage across diverse written forms.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

establish a presence

Focuses on creating an initial position, without necessarily implying overcoming difficulty.

secure a position

Implies obtaining a stable and defensible spot, potentially with more effort.

attain a presence

Formal way to mean reach or gain a particular presence in something.

make inroads

Highlights the act of penetrating or advancing into a new area or market.

get a foot in the door

An idiom emphasizing the initial step towards opportunity, less about sustained progress.

gain traction

Focuses on increasing momentum and acceptance, rather than initial establishment.

achieve recognition

Stresses attaining acknowledgement, not necessarily a concrete position.

become established

Highlights the state of being firmly rooted and accepted, rather than the act of achieving it.

carve out a niche

Emphasizes creating a unique and specialized position in a market or field.

acquire influence

Indicates the accumulation of persuasive power, which might not directly equate to having a physical or market "foothold".

FAQs

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

You can use "gain a foothold" to describe establishing an initial, often precarious, position in a market, industry, or other competitive environment. For example, "The company is trying to gain a foothold in the Asian market."

What are some alternatives to "gain a foothold"?

Alternatives include "establish a presence", "secure a position", or "make inroads", each with slight differences in meaning.

Is it correct to say "got a foothold" instead of "gain a foothold"?

While "got a foothold" is understandable, "gain a foothold" is more formal and typically preferred in professional or academic writing. "Got" is a more informal way to express the same idea.

What's the difference between "gain a foothold" and "gain traction"?

"Gain a foothold" refers to establishing an initial position, while "gain traction" implies increasing momentum or acceptance after a position has already been established.