Cryptic crossword clue
Tiny step in the direction of European dominance 3-4

The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 8 letter word TOE-HOLD

I've seen this crossword clue in Financial Times
T
O
E
-
H
O
L
D

Buddy explains!

The straight part
We know that "Tiny step" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case tiny step = toe-hold.
The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.
This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.

What does TOE-HOLD mean?

TOE-HOLD noun
  1. A foothold small enough to support just the toe.
  2. (by extension) Any small advantage which allows one to make significant progress; a slight footing or foothold.
  3. A hold in which the aggressor bends back the opponent's foot.

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