make a dent in
US /meɪk ə dɛnt ɪn/
UK /meɪk ə dɛnt ɪn/
1.
to reduce something, especially a problem or a large amount of work, but not solve it completely
:
•
We've been working all day, but we've barely made a dent in the pile of paperwork.
•
The extra funding will help make a dent in the city's homelessness problem.