Dent meaning in English
Learn how to use Dent correctly with Gymglish.
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Definition
a dent: an indentation, a hollow caused by an impact; a bad effect or result
When we came home, we noticed that there was a dent in the door. It looked like somebody had tried to break in.
I really made a dent in my savings account this summer: I spent almost half of the money I had saved.
to dent: to damage, to make concave, to make a small hole or hollow
I threw a stone and it dented my mom's car.
Examples
- "Fall 2: I dented my "lucky" nickel coin."
- "If we are unable to sell this product, the overstock of perfumes could put a major dent in our profit margins."
- "Nickel is too soft, there's a huge dent in Mr Delavigne's head and his legs are all twisted."
Exercise 1
Summarize this email by selecting the best answers according to the text.
Kevin writes that the surplus bottles of "Bordello Breeze" are .
Kevin is because .
Kevin writes that the surplus bottles of "Bordello Breeze" are .
Kevin is because .
Summarize this email by selecting the best answers according to the text.
Kevin writes that the surplus bottles of "Bordello Breeze" are ready to be distributed 1.
Kevin is worried 2 because not selling the surplus bottles will damage Delavigne's profit margins 3.
Kevin writes that the surplus bottles of "Bordello Breeze" are ready to be distributed 1.
Kevin is worried 2 because not selling the surplus bottles will damage Delavigne's profit margins 3.
1 ready to be distributed: Kevin writes that the perfumes have been "distilled" and "bottled" and "are currently sitting in our warehouse south of Paris, until we take further action". A warehouse is a building used for storage. Kevin is saying that the bottles may be "distributed" or sold to retail stores at any moment.
1 in need of a quality check: Kevin does not indicate anywhere in his email that the bottles need to be checked or inspected for quality. In fact, they are "sitting in our warehouse" waiting to be sold, which suggest that the perfumes are ready to be distributed and sold.
1 in retail shops already: The bottles are "currently sitting in our warehouse south of Paris", and not yet in stores or shops. "Currently" means "at the present time".
1 missing: The factory has produced too many bottles, but there is no problem locating them. A "missing" bottle is absent or cannot be found.
2 worried: There are several indications that Kevin is worried (or concerned). In his first sentence he writes that he has "a bit of a problem", and from the situation he describes, we can assume that Kevin is "worried" or concerned.
2 confident: Given Kevin's difficult predicament, it would be inaccurate to describe Kevin as "confident".
2 optimistic: Given Kevin's difficult predicament, it would be inaccurate to describe Kevin as "optimistic". Kevin does not yet see any potential solution to this problem, so we cannot call him "optimistic".
2 furious: There is no indication in Kevin's email that he is angry or "furious".
3 not selling the surplus bottles will damage Delavigne's profit margins: Icarus informs Kevin that if the company is unable to sell the surplus bottles, it "could put a major dent in their profit margins". If a "major dent has been put into the company's profits", Delavigne's profits would be considerably affected or hurt. The expression "to put a major dent in our profit margins" means "to negatively affect profits".
3 this incident will lower Delavigne's stock prices : Kevin writes about Delavigne's "stock" and "overstock", but he is referring to the supply of perfumes which Delavigne must sell. Kevin is not referring to "stock" in the sense of "investments" or "public interest" in the company.
3 the cost of the surplus bottles will be deducted from Kevin's paycheck: Kevin writes that he is "directly responsible" for all of Delavigne's production, but there is no evidence that Kevin would be personally responsible for "absorbing the cost" of the surplus perfumes.
3 he himself caused this problem: Kevin writes that this problem was "beyond his control" which indicates that he himself did not directly cause this problem. However Kevin writes that he is responsible for taking care of it. Also, this is not a valid reason why Kevin is "worried".
Exercise 2
Brian got so angry when he read Bruno's email that he decided to vandalize Jackson Bollocks' car!
Complete the sentences using the appropriate verb. Not all of the terms were used in the email!
• Brian kicked Jackson's car and left a foot-shaped indent (or hollow) in the door --> Brian the door.
• Brian moved his keys across the side of Jackson's car and made a long mark --> Brian the car.
• Brian hit the car window with a baseball bat --> Brian the window.
• Brian felt bad so he decided to repair Jackson's car --> Brian the car.
Complete the sentences using the appropriate verb. Not all of the terms were used in the email!
• Brian kicked Jackson's car and left a foot-shaped indent (or hollow) in the door --> Brian the door.
• Brian moved his keys across the side of Jackson's car and made a long mark --> Brian the car.
• Brian hit the car window with a baseball bat --> Brian the window.
• Brian felt bad so he decided to repair Jackson's car --> Brian the car.
Brian got so angry when he read Bruno's email that he decided to vandalize Jackson Bollocks' car!
Complete the sentences using the appropriate verb. Not all of the terms were used in the email!
• Brian kicked Jackson's car and left a foot-shaped indent (or hollow) in the door --> Brian dented 1 the door.
• Brian moved his keys across the side of Jackson's car and made a long mark --> Brian scratched 2 the car.
• Brian hit the car window with a baseball bat --> Brian smashed 3 the window.
• Brian felt bad so he decided to repair Jackson's car --> Brian mended 4 the car.
Complete the sentences using the appropriate verb. Not all of the terms were used in the email!
• Brian kicked Jackson's car and left a foot-shaped indent (or hollow) in the door --> Brian dented 1 the door.
• Brian moved his keys across the side of Jackson's car and made a long mark --> Brian scratched 2 the car.
• Brian hit the car window with a baseball bat --> Brian smashed 3 the window.
• Brian felt bad so he decided to repair Jackson's car --> Brian mended 4 the car.
1 dented: This is correct. As we saw in the previous scene, "to dent" is to make a hole or hollow in a surface. Example: Don't sit on the car - you might DENT the bonnet! In the letter, Bruno writes that he dented his "lucky" nickel coin when he fell out of his chair.
1 smashed: Usually, the verb "to smash" is reserved for fragile objects (like glass or ceramics) that can be broken into small pieces. Example: I dropped the box and SMASHED all the wine glasses. A car door is made of metal therefore it is quite robust and difficult "to smash". Note: It is possible to "smash into (something)", meaning to hit something with great force or violence. Example: The two cars SMASHED INTO each other.
1 scratched: This is incorrect. "To scratch" means to damage a surface by making a mark in it. This verb would not be used to describe the creation of a large hole or hollow.
1 mended: This is incorrect. "To mend" means to repair damage - not create damage!
2 scratched: This is correct. In this context, "to scratch" means to damage a surface by making a mark in it. Example: I SCRATCHED the table when I cut vegetables upon it. In the exercise, Brian uses keys to scratch the paintwork on Jackson Bollocks' car.
2 smashed: This is incorrect. "To smash" means to break to pieces with violence, often with large crashing sound. This verb would not be used to describe the creation of a superficial mark in a surface.
2 dented: This is incorrect. "To dent" is to make a significant hole or hollow in a surface. This verb would not be used to describe the creation of a superficial mark in a surface.
2 mended: This is incorrect. "To mend" means to repair damage - not create damage!
3 smashed: As seen in a previous scene, "to smash" means to break to pieces with violence, often with large crashing sound. Example: Jackson Bollocks SMASHED the glass statue on the floor. In the email, Bruno writes that he "smashed (his) designer sunglasses" when he fell out of his chair.
3 dented: This is incorrect. "To dent" is to make a hole or hollow in a surface, usually of a metallic. It is difficult to dent glass because it is too brittle and breaks into pieces - especially when hit by a baseball bat.
3 scratched: This is incorrect. It is possible to scratch glass, to make a mark in the surface with a sharp knife for example. However, A baseball bat is too big to make a scratch, and certainly does more than damage the surface.
3 mended: This is incorrect. "To mend" means to repair damage - not create damage!
4 mended: "To mend" means to "repair" or "put together" something that is damaged, broken, or not functioning. For example: I've decided to MEND the hole in my jeans - it will be cheaper than buying a new pair.
4 smashed: This is incorrect. "To smash" means to create damage by breaking to pieces with violence. It does not mean to repair damage!
4 scratched: This is incorrect. "To scratch" means to damage a surface by making a mark in it. It does not mean to repair damage!
4 dented: This is incorrect. "To dent" means to damage a surface by creating a hole or hollow. It does not mean to repair damage!
Exercise 3
Brian got so angry when he read Bruno's email that he decided to vandalize Jackson Bollocks' car!
Complete the sentences using the appropriate verb. Not all of the terms were used in the email!
• Brian kicked Jackson's car and left a foot-shaped indent (or hollow) in the door --> Brian the door.
• Brian moved his keys across the side of Jackson's car and made a long mark --> Brian the car.
• Brian hit the car window with a baseball bat --> Brian the window.
• Brian felt bad so he decided to repair Jackson's car --> Brian the car.
Complete the sentences using the appropriate verb. Not all of the terms were used in the email!
• Brian kicked Jackson's car and left a foot-shaped indent (or hollow) in the door --> Brian the door.
• Brian moved his keys across the side of Jackson's car and made a long mark --> Brian the car.
• Brian hit the car window with a baseball bat --> Brian the window.
• Brian felt bad so he decided to repair Jackson's car --> Brian the car.
Brian got so angry when he read Bruno's email that he decided to vandalize Jackson Bollocks' car!
Complete the sentences using the appropriate verb. Not all of the terms were used in the email!
• Brian kicked Jackson's car and left a foot-shaped indent (or hollow) in the door --> Brian dented 1 the door.
• Brian moved his keys across the side of Jackson's car and made a long mark --> Brian scratched 2 the car.
• Brian hit the car window with a baseball bat --> Brian smashed 3 the window.
• Brian felt bad so he decided to repair Jackson's car --> Brian mended 4 the car.
Complete the sentences using the appropriate verb. Not all of the terms were used in the email!
• Brian kicked Jackson's car and left a foot-shaped indent (or hollow) in the door --> Brian dented 1 the door.
• Brian moved his keys across the side of Jackson's car and made a long mark --> Brian scratched 2 the car.
• Brian hit the car window with a baseball bat --> Brian smashed 3 the window.
• Brian felt bad so he decided to repair Jackson's car --> Brian mended 4 the car.
1 dented: This is correct. As we saw in the previous scene, "to dent" is to make a hole or hollow in a surface. Example: Don't sit on the car - you might DENT the bonnet! In the letter, Bruno writes that he dented his "lucky" nickel coin when he fell out of his chair.
1 smashed: Usually, the verb "to smash" is reserved for fragile objects (like glass or ceramics) that can be broken into small pieces. Example: I dropped the box and SMASHED all the wine glasses. A car door is made of metal therefore it is quite robust and difficult "to smash". Note: It is possible to "smash into (something)", meaning to hit something with great force or violence. Example: The two cars SMASHED INTO each other.
1 scratched: This is incorrect. "To scratch" means to damage a surface by making a mark in it. This verb would not be used to describe the creation of a large hole or hollow.
1 mended: This is incorrect. "To mend" means to repair damage - not create damage!
2 scratched: This is correct. In this context, "to scratch" means to damage a surface by making a mark in it. Example: I SCRATCHED the table when I cut vegetables upon it. In the exercise, Brian uses keys to scratch the paintwork on Jackson Bollocks' car.
2 smashed: This is incorrect. "To smash" means to break to pieces with violence, often with large crashing sound. This verb would not be used to describe the creation of a superficial mark in a surface.
2 dented: This is incorrect. "To dent" is to make a significant hole or hollow in a surface. This verb would not be used to describe the creation of a superficial mark in a surface.
2 mended: This is incorrect. "To mend" means to repair damage - not create damage!
3 smashed: As seen in a previous scene, "to smash" means to break to pieces with violence, often with large crashing sound. Example: Jackson Bollocks SMASHED the glass statue on the floor. In the email, Bruno writes that he "smashed (his) designer sunglasses" when he fell out of his chair.
3 dented: This is incorrect. "To dent" is to make a hole or hollow in a surface, usually of a metallic. It is difficult to dent glass because it is too brittle and breaks into pieces - especially when hit by a baseball bat.
3 scratched: This is incorrect. It is possible to scratch glass, to make a mark in the surface with a sharp knife for example. However, A baseball bat is too big to make a scratch, and certainly does more than damage the surface.
3 mended: This is incorrect. "To mend" means to repair damage - not create damage!
4 mended: "To mend" means to "repair" or "put together" something that is damaged, broken, or not functioning. For example: I've decided to MEND the hole in my jeans - it will be cheaper than buying a new pair.
4 smashed: This is incorrect. "To smash" means to create damage by breaking to pieces with violence. It does not mean to repair damage!
4 scratched: This is incorrect. "To scratch" means to damage a surface by making a mark in it. It does not mean to repair damage!
4 dented: This is incorrect. "To dent" means to damage a surface by creating a hole or hollow. It does not mean to repair damage!
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