foothold
• support for the feet, firm surface on which to stand or walk; secure position for further advancement
• footholds are ledges or hollows where you can put your feet when you are climbing.
• if you get a foothold when you are trying to achieve something, you establish yourself in a strong position from which you can make progress.
establishing a foothold
• creating a base, getting a start, getting one's foot in the door
gained a foothold
• found a surface to stand on; made a place for himself
gave him a foothold
• helped him find a surface to stand on