make/put a dent in sth.
弄了一个坑；支出，花费；减少；削弱；前进；取得有效进展；
The stone made a dent in the roof of the car.
石头把车顶砸了个坑。《牛津高阶英汉双解词典》
The lawyer's fees will make a dent in our finances.
律师费将耗去我们一部分资金。The appalling holiday made a big dent in our savings.
这次糟透的度假花去了我们很大一部分的存款。
As I say it's a good day for the citizens of Albuquerque when we can put this big a dent in the local drug trade.
正如我所说，这对阿尔伯克基的公民来说是个好日子，因为我们给予当地毒品交易沉重打击。
I hated to put any dents in his enthusiasm, but I was trying to be realistic.
我不愿给他的热情泼冷水，但我尽量现实一点。（我不想削弱他的热情，但我尽量实事求是。
The commission had barely begun to make a dent in the problem
委员会几乎还没有在这个问题上取得任何进展。《柯林斯高阶英汉双解学习词典》
The novice worked all night, but barely made a dent in the work.
那个新手通宵夜战，但工作上几乎没有什么进展。
His long and pedestrian speech made no real dent in my mind.
他冗长乏味的演讲没有在我的头脑中留下什么印象。
