2
general::
verb make a dent in sth ADV. badly The car was quite badly dented on one side. | slightly damage sth ADV. badly, seriously, severely Being turned down for the job dented his pride quite badly. The appearance of these cheap goods from abroad has severely dented the company's sales. | slightly VERB + DENT fail to The experience failed to dent her confidence., noun ADJ. big, great, large | considerable, serious, severe, significant (all figurative) The latest health scare has made a very considerable dent in the sales of beef. | little, slight, small VERB + DENT leave, make The impact of the stones made little dents in the metal. | have PREP. ~ in My side of the car had a large dent in it.
Oxford Collocations Dictionary