make a dent in

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.

Example Sentences

In the north and centre of the country where the army has wrestled back territory from the RSF, food and medical aid have begun to make a dent in civilian suffering.

From BBC

But Mr McGrath, and Iluka, are hoping to make a dent in that control - even if it wasn't necessarily in the company's original plan.

From BBC

But Keefe, the Beyond Plastics advocate, says all this hope for circular economy laws and small community action is misplaced, that we’re not going to make a dent in waste generation as long as single-use plastic manufacturers produce and sell their products.

From Los Angeles Times

Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina was dismissive of the Freedom Caucus on Thursday, telling CNN that the cuts they are pushing for would barely make a dent in the national debt.

From Los Angeles Times

Scaling the intervention to the level needed to make a dent in the vast region served by the L.A.

From Los Angeles Times