toehold

/ˌtoʊˈhoʊld/

Other forms: toeholds

A toehold is a sturdy spot where you can put your foot, especially when you're climbing. If you don't find a safe toehold, you'll never manage to get over that fence to get your baseball back.

A literal toehold is an area where at least part of your foot can fit and that's strong enough to hold your weight. A figurative toehold is a tiny advance that gives you a small start toward progress. Getting an internship at a publishing company will give you a toehold in the industry. The literal definition, "support for the toe of a boot in climbing," dates from the late nineteenth century.

Definitions of toehold

1. noun

   a relatively insignificant position from which future progress might be made
   “American diplomacy provided a toehold on which to proceed toward peace talks”

   “his father gave him a toehold in the oil business”

   type of:

   position, status

   the relative position or standing of things or especially persons in a society
2. noun

   a small foothold used in climbing
   type of:

   foothold, footing

   a place providing support for the foot in standing or climbing
3. noun

   a wrestling hold in which the toe is held and the leg is twisted against the joints
   type of:

   wrestling hold

   a hold used in the sport of wrestling