foothold

/ˈfʊthəʊld/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈfʊthəʊld/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈfu̇t-ˌhōld/ (ame, mw)

foothold — noun

  • footholdsingular
  • footholdsplural

1. a small spot that safely supports your foot while you climb or try to keep your

1.名詞C1
釋義

a small spot that safely supports your foot while you climb or try to keep your balance.

例句

Élise tested each foothold before climbing the wet cliff above the river.

climbing context: test each foothold before moving upward

A loose stone broke away, and Nadia lost her foothold on the ladder.

collocation: lose your foothold on [surface]

同義詞
  • footing

    broader; can mean general stable support for standing, not a single small step

  • purchase

    more formal or technical; focuses on grip against a surface

文法句型

find/lose a foothold

a foothold on [surface]

用法筆記

Often used with verbs such as find, lose, secure, or give. Usually refers to climbing, steep ground, ladders, or other places where your foot needs steady support.

常見錯誤

❌She grabbed a foothold on the rock.
✅She found a foothold on the rock.
💡A foothold is a place for your foot, not something you hold with your hand.

2. an initial secure position that lets a person, company, or idea grow stronger an

2.名詞C1
釋義

an initial secure position that lets a person, company, or idea grow stronger and move further.

例句

The bakery used weekend markets as a foothold in the Taipei food scene.

pattern: use something as a foothold in [field]

After one small contract, Hari gained a foothold with hospitals in Kaohsiung.

collocation: gain a foothold with [group]

同義詞
  • presence

    broader and weaker; does not always suggest a first secure base for growth

  • base

    more permanent and established than an early foothold

  • beachhead

    more strategic and forceful, often used in business or military metaphors

文法句型

gain/find a foothold in [place/field]

give somebody a foothold in [field]

用法筆記

Often appears with find, gain, establish, or give. Common in business, politics, and social change, where the foothold is the first stable position before wider growth.

常見錯誤

❌The brand has a foothold of loyal customers.
✅The brand has a foothold in the local market.
💡A foothold is the position you secure in a place or field, not the supporters themselves.