on its foothold

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "on its foothold" is not commonly used in written English and may sound awkward or unclear.
It could be used in contexts discussing stability or support, but it is better to clarify the intended meaning. Example: "The company is trying to maintain its foothold in the competitive market."

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Quite why Euronext should be able to promise so much more is hard to see although it will be able to capitalise on its foothold in London, having bought Liffe, the London derivatives market, three years ago.

The Economist

It's already been sold to the Dominican Republic and Chile; but producers Zeta Films must be hoping it's going to chew through other Spanish-speaking markets, and build on its foothold in Russia to sell in adjacent countries.

The Guardian - Film

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

Russia, which is hugely dependent on energy exports, is set on strengthening its foothold in Europe.

Forbes

The government would then, for the first time, lose its foothold on the Jaffna peninsula.

The Economist

With its foothold on the European continent and the bulk of its territory in Asia, Turkey has been the site of sweeping ideological battles before.

The New York Times

Barneys is in rebranding and expansion mode, reclaiming its foothold on New York's downtown district with the opening of a second flagship store in Chelsea in January 2016.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

[C2.] Safeway to Acquire Grocery Chain Safeway, one of the nation's largest supermarket chains, agreed to buy the closely held Genuardi's Family Markets to strengthen its foothold on the East Coast.

The New York Times

Safeway Inc., one of the nation's largest supermarket chains, agreed today to buy the closely held Genuardi's Family Markets Inc. to strengthen its foothold on the East Coast.

The New York Times

All of it makes him one of the most recognizable and popular figures to casual fans of a majestic sport trying to regain its foothold on a larger audience.

The New York Times - Sports

Just as the new wave of jazz — sparked by Rollins himself, along with Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Thelonious Monk, Ornette Coleman, Cecil Taylor, and others — was reaching new heights of freed-up inspiration, the music was struggling to maintain its foothold on popularity, its financial basis, its commercial circuit of activity and support.

The New Yorker

I regard its impact to have been spectacular: Germany was denied victory and hegemony over Europe Francee was spared occupation; Britain maintained its foothold on the Continent.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a company's initial entry into a new market, consider using "on its foothold" to emphasize the tentative yet strategic nature of their position. This suggests potential for growth from a limited base.

Common error

While grammatically correct, "on its foothold" can sometimes sound awkward or less direct than alternatives like "building on its foundation" or "leveraging its initial success". Choose the phrasing that best fits the tone and clarity of your writing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "on its foothold" functions as a prepositional phrase, modifying a verb or noun to indicate the basis or starting point for an action or development. It signifies utilizing an initial advantage or secure position.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

40%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "on its foothold" describes building upon an initial advantage. Though grammatically sound, its usage is rare. Ludwig AI suggests it is not commonly used in written English and may sound awkward or unclear. It appears mostly in news and media, signaling a strategic but tentative position. Consider alternatives like "on its foundation" or "capitalizing on its position" for improved clarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

expanding from its toehold

"Toehold" is synonymous to "foothold", implying a small initial advantage.

leveraging its beachhead

"Beachhead" is a military term similar to "foothold", implying an initial, often hard-won, position.

capitalizing on its position

Focuses on leveraging an existing advantage, similar to exploiting a "foothold" but more broadly defined.

on its foundation

Highlights the underlying structure or support, whereas "foothold" suggests a more tenuous or initial advantage.

from its established position

Focuses on the fact that a position already exists and is used as a starting point.

from its base

Focuses on the origin or starting point, differing from "foothold" which implies a more active or strategic position.

building upon its gains

Emphasizes the act of expansion and progress from previous achievements, unlike "foothold" which can simply denote a starting position.

from its secure stance

Highlights the safety and stability of a particular position or approach.

solidifying its presence

Highlights the act of making an existing position more secure and stable.

reinforcing its base

Emphasizes strengthening the existing foundation or support structure.

FAQs

How can I use "on its foothold" in a sentence?

You can use "on its foothold" to describe how an entity is leveraging a small advantage or position to achieve a greater goal. For example: "The company is building "on its foothold" in the Asian market to expand its global reach."

What phrases are similar to "on its foothold"?

Alternatives include phrases like "from its base", "on its foundation", or "capitalizing on its position", each with slightly different nuances.

Is there a difference between "on its foothold" and "from its foothold"?

"On its foothold" implies that something is actively building or depending on the initial advantage. "From its foothold" suggests more of a starting point or origin. The choice depends on whether you want to emphasize the dependence or the origin.

When is it appropriate to use "on its foothold" versus other alternatives?

Use "on its foothold" when you want to highlight the deliberate and strategic use of an initial advantage to gain further ground. For example, use "leveraging its beachhead" if the foothold has a connotation of being hard won and strategic.