地道英语表达｜get your foot in the door

What’s up everyone? Thank you for making here a part of your English study.

Today’s expression comes from the days of door to door salesman. Today, there are still some people who do door to door sales, but it used to be much more common. Perhaps, 30, 40, 50, or even 60 years ago, it’s a very common way to sell products. For example, vacuum cleaners, or things of this sort. For those who don’t know a door to door salesman, this is a person who walks through the neighbourhood, knocks on doors, and once the person living there opens the door, they try to sell them some kinds of product.

So, let’s imagine, you are a door to door salesman, and you have been going house to house all day. It’s hot outside, and there is sweat on your brow, and you just have few houses left before you go home. You haven’t made many sales today, so you really want this next one to be a success. You go up to the house, and you knock on the door, and someone opens the door. There is a nice woman there, smiling, and she says “Oh, hello, can I help you?”. At that moment, you proceed to tell her about your vacuum cleaner, and all the wonderful features it has. She seems interested, and you ask her “may I come in to show you how to use it?”. At this moment, if she says no, then it will be very difficult to show her how this vacuum cleaner works. Of course, you need to vacuum something up, probably of a carpet that’s in the house. But if you get your foot in the door, then the sale is more likely.

This is our expression for today.

to get your foot in the door

初步进入（企业或组织）；迈出成功的第一步

What this means is that you have succeed with the first step and are on your way to be successful. Now, this expression is usually used in a business setting, and specifically when you are looking for a job. Like I said, these days door to door sales are much less common because more and more people are buying things on the internet. So instead nowadays, this expression is used when talking about getting a job.

So let’s get into some examples.

Example I

You know Mike, if you don’t end up getting the job you are gunning for, you could always try applying for a lower level position and start there. That would be a good way to get your foot in the door. Don’t you think?嘿，迈克，如果你最终没有找到想要的工作，你可以尝试申请较低级别的职位并从那里开始。那将是步入大门的好方法。你不觉得吗？

In this situation, a friend is giving advice to Mike. He is telling him if he doesn’t get the higher level position that he is gunning for, then he can apply for a lower level position. This may be easier for him to get, and would get his foot in the door, meaning it would be a small success that would lead to a greater success later. It would lead to Mike’s desired outcome. “gunning for” is another expression, meaning that you are aiming for that thing, or you are trying to get that thing. Usually this is also used when talking about getting a job.

be gunning for

努力取得（或赢得）（某物）

Irwin is gunning for his third straight championship.

埃尔温正在努力争取连续第三次获得冠军。

Let’s look at another example to really bring this expression home to you.

Example II

Yeah, I don’t know man. Do you think she likes coffee? You could start by buying her coffee and then bring her a tour. That might get your foot in the door. 呃，我不清楚。你觉得她喜欢咖啡吗？你可以先给她买杯咖啡，然后再带她参观。那可能会让你有机会。

In this example, someone is giving suggestions to his friend. If she like coffee, then buying her a coffee and giving it to her at her desk would be an easy way to get her attention. And if it is something that she appreciates, then it would be a good way to get his foot in the door. As I mention previously, this expression is most commonly used with getting jobs and companies or something like that, but it is also used in a dating context.