Glossary entry (derived from question below)
English term or phrase:
get a toehold
English answer:
obtain an initial, stable position
English term
United States
BA in Transl., MA in ESL, 15 yrs of exp.
Native in: Portuguese 
Works in: English to Portuguese, Portuguese to English, Spanish to Portuguese, and 2 more.
get a toehold
Also, of these three definitions which one(s) better reflect(s) the meaning? To me, there's a considerable difference between "stable" and "small/slight", that's why I'm asking.
1) get a toehold: To obtain an initial, stable position from which one can progress in a particular industry or area. (Farlex, Idiom Connection)
2) toehold: an opportunity to start doing something small that may lead to bigger and better opportunities in the future: to gain/get a toehold in sth (Cambridge)
3) toehold: any slight or initial support, influence, advantage, progress, or the like: His knowledge of Latin gave him a toehold for learning French. (Dictionary.com)
Here's the context: "Blacks gained a toehold in the manufacturing sector of the North, but it was just that, a toehold. Theirs were the dirtiest, most dangerous, ..." (passage was cut off in Google Books, sorry!)
| 4 +2 | obtain an initial, stable position |
Yvonne Gallagher
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Non-PRO (1): Tony M
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Responses
Ireland
right word, right place. everytime
Native in: English (Variants: Irish, UK, US, Canadian)
Works in: French to English, Spanish to English, English, and 1 more.
obtain an initial, stable position
think of it as (literally) climbing a rockface, and getting the tip of one foot safe so you can bring the other foot up and then repeat to keep climbing
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Note added at 6 mins (2021-10-07 17:28:11 GMT)
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Also fine
) toehold: an opportunity to start doing something small that may lead to bigger and better opportunities in the future: to gain/get a toehold in sth (Cambridge)
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Note added at 10 mins (2021-10-07 17:31:52 GMT)
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the difference in meaning: a toehold, in climbing (which is the analogy) may be stable BUT is also quite slight. You MIGHT be able to make (slow and steady) progress BUT you could still fall!
https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/toehold
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Note added at 30 mins (2021-10-07 17:51:24 GMT)
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I like this one, different stages, toehold/foothold/stranglehold
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/toehold
b(1): a means of progressing (as in surmounting barriers)
(2): a slight footing
used his money to get a toehold, then a foothold, then a near stranglehold on the political economy
— R. W. Armstrong
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Note added at 2 days 1 hr (2021-10-09 18:53:47 GMT) Post-grading
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Glad to have helped
| agree |
Tomasso
: yes, from climbing mountains, or trying to go up a slippery slope, if one can just get a toehold and then get on their feet and steady ones self
1 hr
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Thank you! Yes, exactly. Slippery slope another time we all need to gain some purchase, at least momentarily, to steady ourselves.
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| agree |
David Hollywood
: gain initial access
9 hrs
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Discussion