make a dent in
make a dent in (something)
[British, American & Australian, American]
to reduce the amount or level of something.
The roof repairs made quite a dent in our savings.

Police efforts have hardly put a dent in the level of drug trafficking on the streets.
(often negative)

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲

make a dent in something
make a dent in (something)
[British, American & Australian, American]
to reduce the amount or level of something.
The roof repairs made quite a dent in our savings.

Police efforts have hardly put a dent in the level of drug trafficking on the streets.
(often negative)

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲

make a dent in
make progress doing something
We worked hard all day but we didn't make a dent in the amount of work left to do.

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲

make a dent in something
make progress doing something
We worked hard all day but we didn't make a dent in the amount of work left to do.

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲

make a dent in
v. phr., informal To make less by a very small amount; reduce slightly.
■ Usually used in the negative or with such qualifying words as "hardly" or "barely".
John shoveled and shoveled, but he didn't seem to make a dent in the pile of sand.
Mary studied all afternoon and only made a dent in her homework.

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲