# get one's foot in the door

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/get-ones-foot-in-the-door
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

To initiate contact or a relationship; to gain access, especially to an entry-level job.

## Examples

- He took an internship to get his foot in the door.
- You often need a personal connection to get your foot in the door.
- She accepted a low-level position at the company just to get her foot in the door.
- I decided to work as a freelance writer for their blog to get my foot in the door before applying for a full-time editor role.
- The young actor agreed to play a very small part in the play just to get his foot in the door at the famous theater.
- By volunteering for the small project, he managed to get his foot in the door of a highly competitive industry.

## Origin

The idiom is probably derived from a tactic attributed to door-to-door salesmen, who were said to place a foot in the opening of a prospective customer's door. This physical obstruction prevented the resident from closing the door until the sales pitch had reached its conclusion. While the story remains a popular explanation for the phrase, it is an unproven attribution rather than a settled historical fact. (disputed)

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.