After gaining a toe-hold in the market, the new company gradually expanded its business.

toe-hold 是由 toe（脚趾）和 hold（抓住、支撑）组成的复合名词，字面意思是"用脚趾抓住"。 toe-hold 比喻指"初步的立足点"或"微弱的优势"，常用来形容企业在市场中获得初步成功或站稳脚跟的状态。