make a dent in

Idioms  

1. Begin to accomplish or consume something, as in I've barely made a dent in this pile of correspondence, or Help us put a dent in this pie. This metaphoric expression alludes to striking a blow to make a physical indentation in something.

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

make a dent in

Murphy’s fellow representative, Democrat Zac Ista, told ProPublica he hadn’t been able to make a dent in this legislature.

From Salon ● Jun. 8, 2026

Councils already have the power to issue on the spot penalties of £150 for littering, and the uplift is unlikely to make a dent in super sites which can cost millions to clean up.

From BBC ● Mar. 18, 2026

Cerebras, founded about a decade ago, has struggled in recent years to make a dent in the semiconductor market.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 14, 2026

Still, the payments didn’t appear to make a dent in her loan balance, she said.

From MarketWatch ● Dec. 19, 2025

It was pitifully small; how could hairpins make a dent in that creature’s hide?

From "Throne of Glass" by Sarah J. Maas