dent

bosse, enfoncement

Petit creux formé sur une surface à la suite d’un choc.

En anglais simple : A small hollow in a surface caused by something hitting it.

• The door has a dent.
• The crash left several dents in the car.
• Can you repair this dent in the metal?

Comment l'utiliser : dent in something (There is a dent in the car door.)

Synonymes : indentation

Expressions courantes : a dent, dent in something, small dent

avancée, réduction

Petit progrès qui réduit l’ampleur d’une tâche importante ou d’un problème.

En anglais simple : A small amount of progress in reducing a large task or problem.

• We made a dent in the work.
• One payment barely made a dent in the debt.
• Have you made a dent in that reading list?

Comment l'utiliser : make a dent in something (We finally made a dent in the pile of laundry.)

Expressions courantes : make a dent, dent in something

coup, baisse

Perte ou dommage qui réduit la taille, la force ou la réussite de quelque chose.

En anglais simple : A loss or damage that makes something smaller, weaker, or less successful.

• The loss left a dent in his confidence.
• Rising costs made a serious dent in profits.
• That mistake put a dent in her reputation.

Comment l'utiliser : put a dent in something (The repair bill put a dent in our savings.)

Synonymes : blow, damage, reduction

Expressions courantes : dent in something, put a dent, serious dent

cabosser, enfoncer

Faire un petit creux dans une surface en la frappant ou en appuyant dessus.

En anglais simple : To make a small hollow in a surface by hitting or pressing it.

• Do not dent the door.
• I dropped the pan and dented it.
• The falling branch had dented the car’s roof.

Expressions courantes : dent a car, dent the door, dent something badly

se cabosser

Se creuser légèrement sous l’effet d’un choc ou d’une pression.

En anglais simple : To develop a small hollow when hit or pressed.

• This metal dents easily.
• The thin lid dented under his thumb.
• Will these pans dent if I drop them?

Expressions courantes : dent easily, dent under pressure