makeadent (third-person singular simple presentmakes a dent,present participlemaking a dent,simple past and past participlemade a dent)
- (figurative) Tomake an impression; to have aneffect on; tochip away at.
1938 December 18, Bosley Crowther, quotingJohn Garfield, “A man who means to make a dent”, inThe New York Times[1],→ISSN:If an actor doesn't have a point of view, he doesn'tmake a dent. And I mean tomake a dent.
1992 December 6, David M. Gordon, “Clinton May Fall Short on Easing Unemployment”, inLos Angeles Times, page D2:But I am not yet persuaded that Clintonomics willmake much ofa dent in the persistent problems of unemployment in the U.S. economy.
1999 February 4, Michael M. Weinstein, “Clinton's budget plan on social needs will barely make a dent”, inThe New York Times[2]:Clinton's budget plan on social needs will barelymake a dent [title]
2001 December 26, Craig S. Smith, “China's Efforts Against Crime Make No Dent”, inThe New York Times[3],→ISSN:China's Efforts Against CrimeMake No Dent [title]
2011,Walter Isaacson, quoting Steve Jobs,Steve Jobs, New York: Simon & Schuster,→ISBN,page94:Think about surfing on the front edge of a wave. It's really exhilarating. Now think about dog-paddling at the tail end of that wave. It wouldn't be anywhere near as much fun. Come down here andmake a dent in the universe.
- Used other than figuratively or idiomatically:seemake,a,dent.
