toehold
/ˈtəʊhəʊld/noun
1- a small place where a person's foot can be lodged to support them, especially while climbing（尤指登山时的）立足点, 支点。
1.1
- a relatively insignificant position from which further progress may be made初步的立脚点：
the initiative is helping companies to gain a toehold in the Gulf.
这份倡议帮各家公司在海湾地区初步站稳脚跟。