make inroads into


make inroads (in/into something)

To successfully advance into or encroach upon some new area. A: "How's the research going?" B: "We've made inroads, but there's still a long way to go until a treatment is ready." Our product is finally starting to make inroads into the Chinese market. I was just starting to make inroads in the conversation with him when the party started winding down.See also: inroad, make

make inroads into something

Fig. to succeed in getting something done or at least started. George was unable to make inroads into solving the problem. We are making no inroads into the high-priority project.See also: inroad, make

make inroads into

Encroach on, advance at another's expense, as in The Japanese rapidly made inroads into the computer-chip market. The noun inroad originally meant "an invasion." [Late 1600s] See also: inroad, make

make inroads in/into something


1 reduce the amount of something: Repairs to the house had made deep inroads into their savings.
2 advance successfully into a new area: Doctors are making great inroads in the fight against cancer.Their products are already making inroads in these new markets.See also: inroad, make, something