make a dent

present singular third person makes a dent · participle present making a dent · participle past made a dent · past made a dent · alternative leave a dent · alternative put a dent

1. figurativelyTo make an impression; to have an effect on; to chip away at.

   China's Efforts Against Crime Make No Dent [title]

   2001 December 26, Craig S. Smith, “China's Efforts Against Crime Make No Dent”, in The New York Times, →ISSN

   4 more examples

   If an actor doesn't have a point of view, he doesn't make a dent. And I mean to make a dent.

   1938 December 18, Bosley Crowther, quoting John Garfield, “A man who means to make a dent”, in The New York Times, →ISSN

   But I am not yet persuaded that Clintonomics will make much of a dent in the persistent problems of unemployment in the U.S. economy.

   1992 December 6, David M. Gordon, “Clinton May Fall Short on Easing Unemployment”, in Los Angeles Times, page D2

   Clinton's budget plan on social needs will barely make a dent [title]

   1999 February 4, Michael M. Weinstein, “Clinton's budget plan on social needs will barely make a dent”, in The New York Times

   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 and make a dent in the universe.

   2011, Walter Isaacson, quoting Steve Jobs, Steve Jobs, New York: Simon & Schuster, →ISBN, page 94

2. Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see make, a, dent.