Cool MateInfluence vs Put this big a dent
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Influence
Top 1,000 (very common)B1noun
Put this big a dent
Beyond 10,000 (less common)
Most common: Influence
| Influence | Put this big a dent | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈɪnfluəns/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈɪnfluəns/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //pʊt ðɪs bɪg ə dɛnt//🇺🇸 //pʊt ðɪs bɪg ə dɛnt// |
| Meaning | To have an effect on someone or something. | to make a significant impact or change. |
| Example | Her influence on the committee was undeniable, as she often swayed their decisions. | His donation really put this big a dent in our fundraising efforts. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Beyond 10,000 (less common) |
| CEFR level | B1 | - |
| Part of speech | noun | |
| Collocations | big, considerable, enormous, have, gain, give somebody, extend, grow, wane, under the influence, influence from, influence in, a sphere of influence, bring your influence to bear on somebody/something, under the influence, big, considerable, enormous, have, gain, give somebody, extend, grow, wane, under the influence, influence from, influence in, a sphere of influence, bring your influence to bear on somebody/something, under the influence, big, considerable, great, be, have, be exposed to, be at work, affect something, shape something, influence on | put a dent in, put this big a dent, make a dent |
| Antonyms | disregard, ignore, neglect | ignore, neglect |
| Common mistakes | Used as a noun instead of a verb without context., Confused with 'affect' versus 'effect'., Omitting the object when using it in sentences. | Confused with 'put a dent in' which is more common., Using 'big' incorrectly as an adverb., Omitting 'a' before 'dent'. |
| Usage notes | Used in both formal and informal contexts to describe how one person or thing affects another. Be cautious not to confuse it with 'affect' which is more emotion-based. | Often used metaphorically to describe making a noticeable difference in a situation. Suitable for both spoken and written contexts. Avoid in overly formal situations. |
See it in real clips
Frequently asked questions: Influence vs Put this big a dent
What's the difference between Influence and Put this big a dent?
Influence: To have an effect on someone or something. Put this big a dent: to make a significant impact or change.
Which is more common: Influence and Put this big a dent?
Influence is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Influence: Her influence on the committee was undeniable, as she often swayed their decisions. Put this big a dent: His donation really put this big a dent in our fundraising efforts.
Can I use Influence and Put this big a dent interchangeably?
Not always. Influence and Put this big a dent are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.