Usage patterns 足あし 掛が かりを 作つく る to create/gain a foothold
We created a foothold to expand into a new market.
〈 事こと 〉 を 足あし 掛が かりとする to use something as a stepping stone
I aim to use this experience as a stepping stone toward independence.
〈 場ば 所しょ 〉 に 足あし 掛が かりを 得え る to gain a foothold in a place
The company gained a foothold in the Asian market.
足あし 掛が かりを 失うしな う to lose one's foothold
We ended up losing our foothold in the negotiations.
Kanji 足 leg, foot, be sufficient Related words 踏み台 literally means a stepping stool and is often used to mean using someone or something merely as a means to one's own advancement, whereas 足掛かり is more neutral, simply describing a starting point for progress.
糸口 refers to a clue or the beginning thread of a solution to a problem, while 足掛かり emphasizes a firm base or position from which to advance.
拠点 is a concrete base of operations (e.g. a business's regional headquarters), while 足掛かり is broader and can describe any initial toehold, literal or figurative.
足掛かり usually means a first step or clue toward a goal, while 足場 suggests a more stable, established base to work from.
Written forms 足あし 掛が かり Usage 19%
Standard kanji spelling; high frequency in news sources.
足あし がかり Usage 77%
Common kana-mixed spelling; the がかり part is often written in kana.
足あし 掛がか り Usage 3%
Less common variant using 掛り instead of 掛かり .
あしがかり Usage 1%
Etymology Compound of 足 (foot) and 掛かり (from 掛かる , to hang or be suspended), literally meaning a place where the foot can be placed or hooked.
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