If you have a toeholdin a situation, you have managed to gain an uncertain position or a small amount of power in it, which you hope will give you the opportunity to get a better or more powerful position.
The company was anxious to get a toehold in the European market. [+ in]
[Also + on]
toehold in British English
(ˈtəʊˌhəʊld)
noun
1.
a small foothold to facilitate climbing
2.
any means of gaining access, support, etc
the socialist party gained a toehold in the local elections
3.
a wrestling hold in which the opponent's toe is held and his or her leg twisted against the joints
toehold in American English
(ˈtoʊˌhoʊld)
noun
1.
a small space or ledge for supporting the toe of the foot in climbing, etc.
2.
any means of surmounting obstacles, gaining entry, etc.
3.
a slight footing or advantage
4. Wrestling
a hold in which one wrestler twists the other's foot
Examples of 'toehold' in a sentence
toehold
The memories of the Gathering and everything that had happened since that awful night could gain no toehold here.
Jennifer Fallon TREASON KEEP (2001)
British, French, Australians, New Zealanders had clawed a toehold on the Gallipoli peninsula.
NULL DARE CALL IT TREASON (2001)
They own Latin America, we don't even try to get a toehold there, it's CIA territory.
Bringle, Mary DEATH OF AN UNKNOWN MAN (2001)
Inside, there was a slim ledge at waist height, which she used for a toehold.